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23  WEST  MAIN  STRUT 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(7)6)872-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


I 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiqi*es 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 
D 
D 

n 

D 
D 
D 
D 
D 

□ 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 

Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagee 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur6e  et/ou  pellicul6e 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  g6ographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
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Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relid  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cjuse  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  ia  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  sa  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout^es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  Icrsque  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  fiimdes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6ti  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifi'^/ 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuver.t  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^es 

□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculdes 


v^ 


D 
0 
D 

n 

D 


v/ 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dicolor^es,  tachet6es  ou  piqu6es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
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Only  edition  available/ 
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Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
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obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  film6es  d  nouveau  de  facon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


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This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmi  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqui  ci-dessous 

10X                            14X                            18X                            22X 

26X 

SOX 

^/ 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

Th«  copy  film«d  her*  hat  b««n  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of : 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 


L'axamplaira  filmi  fut  raproduit  grica  ii  la 
ginirositi  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 


Tha  imagas  cppaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion,  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copias  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion,  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illustratad  imprassion. 


Tha  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  ere  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Las  imagas  suivantas  ont  At*  raproduites  avac  le 
plus  grand  soin.  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattatA  da  raxampiaira  film*,  at  en 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 

Las  exemplairas  originaux  dont  la  couvarture  an 
papier  est  imprimie  sont  filmAs  en  commandant 
par  la  premier  plat  at  9n  terminant  soit  par  la 
darniire  paga  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  seion  le  cas.  Tous  las  autras  exemplairas 
originaux  sont  filmis  en  commenfant  par  la 
premiere  paga  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  at  an  terminant  par 
la  darniire  paga  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
darniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ^  signifia  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN  ". 

Les  cartas,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
film6s  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  il  est  film*  A  partir 
da  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Las  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithoda. 


1 

2 

3 

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5 

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EDWARD   STRATEMEYER'S    BOOKS 
©III  (©lorg  Serteg 

Cloth     Illustrated    Price  per  volume  $1,25. 
UNDER   DEWEY   AT   MANILA     Or  the  War  Fortunes  of  a  Castaway 
A    YOUNG    VOLUNTEER    IN    CUBA      Or  Fighting  for  the  Single 

Star. 
FIGHTING  IN  CUBAN  WATERS     Or  Under  Schley  on  the  Brooklyn. 
UNDER   OTIS    IN   THE   PHILIPPINES   Or  A  Young  Officer  in  the 
Tropics,     (/n  Press.) 

E^t  Boiinti  to  SuccfctJ  Scries 

Three  volumes     Cloth     Illustrated     Price  per  volume  $1.00, 
RICHARD    DARE'S  VENTURE     Or  Striking  Out  for  Hirmself. 
OLIVER   BRIGHT'S  SEARCH     Or  The  Mjstery  of  a  Mine. 
TO   ALASKA    FOR   GOLD     Or  The  Fortune  Hunters  of  the  Yukon. 


Wc)z  Sbip  ant  Sl^ore  Series 

Three  volumes    Cloth     Illustrated    Price  per  volume  $1.00. 

THE  LAST  CRUISE  OF  THE  SPITFIRE    Or  Larry  Foster's  Strange 

Voyage. 
REUBEN   STONE'S   DISCOVERY    Or  The  Young  Miller  of  Torrent 

Bend. 
TRUE  TO   HIMSELF    Or  Roger  Strong's  Struggle  for  Place.     (//) 

Prtta.) 


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"  Unci.e  Fos  tkr  !  Kaki.!  Look  ai  This!"  —  /\i^d  jyo. 


A^KA  FOR  GOLD 


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TO  ALASKA  FOR  GOLD 


OS 


The  Fortune  Hunters  of  the  Yukon 


BY 


AUTHO 


EDWARD   STRATEMEYER 


/^C«7»W7-^Z>  J>y  ^.  ^.  ^^^^^ 


BOSTON 
LEE  AND   SHEPARD  PUBLISHERS 

1899 


^UG29'^ 


CoPYRiaiiT,  1S99,  iiY   Lek  ani»  Siiepard. 


All  /iiy/its  Renerped, 


To  Alahka  Koit  Gold. 


J.  S.  Cushiii);  &:  Co.      Berwick  St  Sitiitb 
Nurwuud  Mass.  U.S.A. 


*i>  o 


PREFACE. 


^ 


I 


"To  Alaska  for  Gold"  forms  the  third  volume 
of  the  "  Bound  to  Succeed  '*  Series.  Like  the  preced- 
ing tales,  this  story  is  complete  in  itself. 

The  rush  to  the  far-away  territory  of  Alaska,  when 
gold  in  large  quantities  was  discovered  upon  Klondike 
Creek,  was  somewhat  similar  to  the  rush  to  California 
in  years  gone  by.  The  gold  fever  spread  to  even  the 
remotest  of  our  hamlets,  and  men,  young  and  old, 
poured  forth,  ready  to  endure  every  hardship  if  only 
the  much-coveted  prize  might  be  secured.  That  many 
succeeded  and  that  many  more  failed  is  now  a  matter 
of  history,  although  of  recent  date. 

In  this  story  are  related  the  adventures  of  two  Maine 
boys  who  leave  their  home  among  the  lumbermen, 
travel  to  California,  there  to  join  their  uncle,  an  ex- 
perienced miner,  and  several  other  men,  and  start  on 
the  long  trip  to  the  Klondike  by  way  of  Dyea,  Chil- 
koot  Pass,  and  the  lakes  and  streams  forming  the 
headwaters  of  the  mighty  Yukon  River.     After  many 

perils  the  gold  district  is  reached,  and  here  a  summer 

iii 


IV 


PREFACE. 


I  I 


and  winter  are  passed,  the  former  in  hunting  for  the 
precious  metal  and  the  hitter  in  a  never  ending  struggle 
to  sustain  life  until  the  advent  of  spring. 

In  writing  the  description  of  this  new  El  Dorado 
the  author  has  endeavored  to  be  as  accurate  as  pos- 
sible, and  has  consulted,  for  this  purpose,  the  leading 
authorities  on  Alaska  and  its  resources,  as  well  as  di- 
gested the  sometimes  tedious,  but,  nevertheless,  always 
interesting,  government  reports  covering  this  subject. 
Regarding  the  personal  experiences  of  his  heroes  he 
would  add  that  nearly  every  incident  cited  has  been 
taken  from  life,  as  nariated  by  those  who  joined  in  the 
frenzied  rush  to  the  new  gold  fields. 

EDWARD  STRATEMEYER. 
Newark,  N.  J., 

April  1, 1899. 


lI^.. 


CONTENTS. 


(  IIAPTRR 

I.  A    liETTKIt    FROM    TH!".    Wkh T    . 

II.  TiiK  Hoys  kkach    v  Dixision 

III.  A  Falsk  Identip'ication 

IV.  A  Serious  Sh  hack 
V.  A  Nir.HT  IN  New  York 

VI.  Preparations  kok  Departure 

VII.  Buying  the  Outfits 

VIII.  On  the  Way  to  Juneau 

IX.  The  Fate  of  a  Stowaway  . 

X.  Up  the  JvYnn  Canal 

XL  The  Start  from  Dyea 

XII.  Earl  has  an  Adventure     . 

XIII.  At  the  Summit  of  Chilkoot  Pass 

XIV.  Boat-building  at  Lake  Linderman 
XV.  On  to  Lake  Bennett    . 

XVL  An  Exciting  Night  in  Camp 

XVII.  A  Hunt  for  Food 

XVIIL  On  to  the  White  Horse  Rapids 

XIX.  Nearing  the  End  of  a  Long  Journey 


PAOI 
1 

9 

18 

27 

30 

44 

52 

61 

69 

77 

85 

93 

101 

109 

118 

127 

134 

141 

149 


VI 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

XX.  The  Gold  Fields  at  Last        ....  157 

XXI.    A  Day  in  Dawson  City 164 

XXII.    Digging  for  Gold 172 

XXIII.  Good  Luck  and  Bad          .....  180 

XXIV.  An  Unlooked-for  Arrival       ....  187 
XXV.  More  Work  in  the  Gulches   ....  195 

XXVI.  Sluice  Boxes  and  Preparations  for  Winter  203 

XXVII.  The  P2nd  of  the  Summer  Season    .        .        .  211 

XXVIII.    Snowed  in 219 

XXIX.  Waiting  and  Watching  for  Spring      .        .  227 

XXX.  Last  Washings  for  Gold         ....  235 

XXXI.  Dow^  the  Yukon  and  Home    ....  243 


LIST   OF    ILL[\STRATIONS 


"  •  Uncle  Foster  !  Earl !  look  at  this '  "     .         .         .        Frontispiece 

«  With  a  final  kick  the  stowaway  was  run  off  the  gang-plank  "      72 
"  The  water  was  boiling  on  every  side  "  .        .        .        .  195 

"  '  I  would  like  to  see  the  prisoner,  please '"    .        .        .        .    jgg 


r^^ 


I 


.     1 


.-m'iimi  .ii*imiam 


TO  ALASKA  FOR  GOLD. 


CHAPTER  I. 


A  LETTER  PROM   THE  WEST. 


"  It  is  not  a  question  of  what  we  should  like  to  do, 
Randy ;  it  is  a  question  of  what  we  must  do." 

"  I  know  it,  Earl.  One  thing  is  certain  :  the  way 
matters  stand  we  can't  pay  the  quarter's  rent  for  this 
timber  land  to-morrow  unless  we  borrow  the  money, 
and  where  we  are  going  for  it  I  haven't  the  least  idea." 

"Nor  I.  It's  a  pity  the  Jackson  Lumber  Company 
had  to  go  to  pieces.     I  wonder  where  Jackson  is." 

"  In  Canada  most  likely.  They  would  put  him  in 
jail  if  they  could  catch  him,  and  he  knows  it." 

"  He  ought  to  be  put  in  jail  !  "  burst  out  Earl,  who 
was  the  elder  of  the  two  Portney  brothers.  "  That  two 
hundred  dollars  he  cheated  us  out  of  would  just  put  us 
on  our  feet.  But  without  it  we  can't  even  pay  bills 
now  owing ;  and  Caleb  Norcross  is  just  aching  to  sell 
this  land  to  Dan  Roland." 

"  If  we  have  to  get  out,  what  are  we  to  do  ?  "  ques- 
tioned Randy,  soberly.  "  I  don't  believe  we  can  get 
work,  unless  we  go  into  the  woods  as  mere  clioppers." 

B  1 


TO   ALASKA    FOR   GOLD. 


I    : 


I 


"  We  shall  have  to  do  something,"  was  Earl's  unsatis- 
factory response. 

The  Portney  brothers  lived  upon  a  small  timber 
claim  in  the  state  of  Maine.  Their  parents  had  died 
three  years  before,  from  injuries  received  in  a  terrible 
forest  fire,  which  had  at  that  time  swept  the  locality. 
The  family  had  never  been  rich,  and  after  the  sad  affair 
the  boys  were  left  to  shift  for  themselves.  The  father 
had  owned  an  interest  in  a  timber  claim,  and  this  had 
been  sold  for  three  hundred  dollars,  and  with  the  pro- 
ceeds the  two  brothers  had  rented  another  claim  and 
gone  to  work  to  get  out  lumber  for  a  new  company 
which  had  begun  operations  in  the  vicinity. 

Earl  was  now  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  Randolph, 
or  Randy,  as  he  was  always  called,  was  nearly  seven- 
teen. Both  lads  were  so  tall,  well-built,  and  muscular, 
that  they  appeared  older.  Neither  had  had  a  real  sick- 
ness in  his  life,  and  the  pair  were  admirably  calculated, 
physically,  to  cope  with  the  hardships  which  came  to 
them  later. 

The  collapse  of  the  new  lumber  combination,  and  the 
running  away  of  its  head  man,  Aaron  Jackson,  had 
proved  a  serious  blow  to  their  prospects.  As  has  been 
intimated,  the  company  owed  them  two  hundred  dollars 
for  timber,  and,  as  not  a  cent  was  forthcoming,  they 
found  themselves  in  debt,  not  only  for  the  quarter's 
rent  f •  »r  the  land  they  were  working,  but  also  at  the 
general  supply  store  at  the  village  of  Basco,  three  miles 


■f 


A   LETTER   FROM   THE   WEST. 


8 


away.  The  boys  had  worked  hard,  early  and  late,  to 
make  both  ends  meet,  and  it  certainly  looked  as  if 
they  did  not  deserve  the  hard  luck  which  had  befallen 
them. 

It  was  supper  time,  and  the  pair  had  just  finished  a 
scanty  meal  of  beans,  bread,  and  the  remains  of  a  brook 
trout  Randy  had  been  lucky  enough  to  catch  before 
breakfast.  Randy  threw  himself  down  on  the  doorstep, 
while  Earl  washed  and  dried  the  few  dishes. 

"  I  wonder  if  we  can't  get  something  out  of  the 
lumber  company,"  mused  the  younger  brother,  as  he 
gazed  meditatively  at  his  boots,  which  were  sadly  in 
need  of  soling  and  heeling.  "  They've  lots  of  timber 
on  hand." 

"All  covered  by  a  mortgage  to  some  Boston  con- 
cern," replied  Earl.  "  I  asked  Squire  Dobson  about  it. 
He  said  we  shouldn't  get  a  penny." 

"  Humph  !  "  Randy  drew  a  deep  breath.  "  By  the 
way,  has  Squire  Dobson  learned  anything  about  Fred, 
yet?" 

"  He's  pretty  sure  Fred  ran  away  to  New  York." 

"  I  can't  understand  why  he  should  run  away  from 
such  a  good  home,  can  you  ?  You  wouldix't  catch  me 
doing  it." 

"He  ran  away  because  he  didn't  want  to  finish 
studying.  Fred  always  was  a  wild  Dick.  I  shouldn't 
wonder  if  he  ended  up  by  going  out  West  to  hunt 
Indians."     Earl  gave  a  short  laugh.     "He'll  have  his 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


eye-teeth  cut  one  of  these  days.  Hullo,  here  comes 
Caleb  Nor(3ross  now  !  " 

Eaii  was  looking  up  the  winding  road  thron^ri  the 
woods,  and,  gazing  in  the  direction.  Randy  saw  a  tall, 
lc?an  individual,  astride  a  bony  horse,  riding  swiftly 
toward  the  cabin. 

"Well,  boys,  what's  the  best  word?"  was  the  sharp 
greeting  given  by  Caleb  Norcross,  as  he  came  to  a  halt 
at  tlie  cabin  door. 

"  I  don't  know  as  there  is  any  best  word,  Mr.  Nor- 
cross," replied  Earl,  quietly. 

"  I  was  over  to  Bill  Stiger's  place  and  thought  if  I 
could  see  you  to-niglit  about  the  rent  money,  it  would 
save  you  a  three  miles'  trip  to-moirow." 

"  You  know  we  can't  pay  you  just  at  present,  Mr. 
Norcross,"  went  on  Earl.  "The  suspension  of  the 
lumber  company  has  left  us  in  the  lurch." 

The  face  of  the  tall,  lean  man  darkened.  "How 
much  did  they  stick  you  for?  "  he  asked  abruptly. 

"Two  hundred  dollars." 

"  Two  hundred  dollars !  You  were  fools  to  trust 
'em  that  much.  I  wouldn't  have  trusted  'em  a  cent  — 
not  a  penny." 

"They  were  well  recommended,"  put  in  Randy. 
"Even  Squire  Dobson  trusted  them." 

"  That  don't  make  no  difference.  I  don't  trust  folks 
unless  I  know  what  I'm  doing.  Although  I  did  trust 
you  boys,"  added  Caleb  Norcross,  hastily.  "  Your 
father  was  always  a  straight  man.' 


>» 


A   LETTER   FROM   THE   WEST. 


"  And  we  are  straight,  too,"  burst  out  Randy,  stung 
by  the  insinuation.  "  You  shall  have  your  money,  if 
only  you  will  give  us  a  little  time." 

"  How  are  you  going  to  get  it  ?  " 

"  We'll  earn  it,"  said  Earl.  "  I  am  sure  we  can  get 
out  enough  timber  by  fall  to  square  accounts." 

"  That  won't  do  for  me  —  not  at  all.  If  you  can't 
pay  up  to-morrow,  you  can  consider  your  claim  on  the 
land  at  an  end." 

"  You  won't  give  us  any  time?  " 

"No.  I  can  sell  this  whole  section  to  Dan  Roland, 
and  I'm  going  to  do  it." 

"You  are  very  hard-hearted,  Mr.  Norcross,"  began 
Randy,  when  a  look  from  his  elder  brother  silenced 
him. 

"  I  ain't  hard-hearted  —  I'm  only  looking  after  my 
own,"  growled  Caleb  Norcross.  "  If  I  let  things  run, 
I'd  do  as  the  lumber  company  did  —  bust  up.  So  you 
can't  pay,  nohow  ?  " 

"  No,  we  can't  pay,"  answered  Earl. 

"Then  I'll  expect  you  to  quit  by  to-morrow  noon." 

Without  waiting  for  another  word,  Caleb  Norcross 
turned  around  his  bony  steed  and  urged  him  forward. 
In  less  than  a  minute  he  had  disappeared  in  the  direc- 
tion whence  he  had  come.  With  sinking  hearts  the 
boys  watched  him  out  of  sight. 

The  blow  they  had  dreaded  had  fallen,  and  for 
several   seconds    neither    spoke.      Then    Randy,    who 


' 


6 


TO   ALASKA    FOR   GOLD. 


1 


bad  pulled  off  one  boot,  flung  it  across  the  kitcben 
floor. 

"  I  don't  cure,  be  can  bave  bis  old  place,"  be  cried 
angrily.  '"  We'll  never  get  ricb  Iiere,  if  we  stay  a  hun- 
dred years.  I'm  sick  and  tired  of  cutting  timber  just 
for  one's  meals  !  " 

"  It's  all  well  enough  to  talk  so.  Randy,"  was  the 
elder  brother's  cautious  response.  "  But  where  are  we 
to  go  if  we  leave  here  ? '' 

"  Ob,  anywhere  !  We  might  try  our  luck  down  in 
Bangor,  or  maybe  Boston." 

Earl  smiled  faintly.  "  We'd  cut  pretty  figures  in  a 
city,  I'm  thinking,  after  a  life  in  the  backwoods." 

"A  backwoods  boy  became  President." 

"  Do  you  wish  to  try  for  the  presidency? " 

"  No  ;  but  it  shows  what  can  be  done  ;  and  I'm  tired 
of  drudging  in  the  woods,  without  any  excitement  or 
anything  new  from  one  year's  end  to  another.  Father 
and  motlier  gave  us  pretty  good  educations,  and  we 
ought  to  make  the  most  of  that." 

"  I  knew  he  wanted  to  sell  this  land  to  Dan  Roland," 
went  on  Earl,  after  a  pause.  "  I  fancy  he  is  gcing  to 
get  a  good  price,  too." 

"  If  Roland  pays  over  five  hundred  dollars  he  will 
get  cheated.  The  timber  at  the  south  end  is  good  for 
nothing."' 

The  boys  entered  the  cabin,  lit  the  lamp,  and  sat 
down  to  discuss  the  situation.     It  was  far  from  promis- 


■l--' 


A   LETTER   FROM   THE   WEST. 


ing,  and,  an  hour  later,  each  retired  to  bed  in  a  very 
uneasy  frame  of  mind.  They  were  up  before  daybreak, 
and  at  breakfast  Earl  announced  his  intention  to  go  to 
iBasco  and  see  what  could  be  done. 

"You  might  as  well  stay  at  home,"  he  continued. 
**It  may  be  Norcross  will  come  back  and  reconsider 
matters." 

"  Not  he  I "  exclaimed  Randy ;  nevertheless,  he 
promised  to  remain  and  look  over  some  clothing  which 
needed  mending,  for  these  sturdy  lads  were  in  the 
habit  of  doing  everything  for  themselves,  even  to  sew- 
ing up  rents  and  darning  ^ocks.  Such  are  the  necessi- 
ties of  real  life  in  the  backwoods. 

It  was  a  bright  sunny  morning,  well  calculated  to 
cheer  any  one's  spirits,  yet  Ran(\y  felt  far  from  light- 
hearted  when  left  alone.  He  could  not  help  but  won- 
der what  would  happen  next. 

"  We've  got  just  twenty-eight  dollars  and  a  half  in 
cash  left,"  he  mused,  as  he  set  to  work  to  replace  some 
buttons  on  one  of  Earl's  working  shirts.  "And  we 
owe  about  six  dollars  at  the  general  store,  three  dollars 
and  a  quarter  for  those  new  axes  and  the  coffee  mill, 
and  twenty  to  Norcross.  Heigh-ho !  but  it's  hard  lines 
to  be  poor,  with  one's  nose  continually  to  the  grind- 
stone. I  wonder  if  we  shouldn't  have  done  better  if  we 
had  struck  out,  as  Uncle  Foster  did  six  years  ago? 
He  has  seen  a  lot  of  the  world  and  made  money 
besides." 


V 


8 


TO  ALASKA   FOR  GOLD, 


Earl  had  expected  to  be  gone  the  best  part  of  tho 
forenoon,  and  Randy  was  surprised,  at  half-past  nine, 
to  see  his  elder  brother  returning  from  the  village, 
l^krl  was  walking  along  the  road  at  the  top  of  his  speed, 
and  as  he  drew  closer,  he  held  up  a  letter. 

"  It's  a  letter  from  Uncle  Foster !  "  he  cried,  as  soon 
as  lie  was  within  speaking  distance.  "  It's  got  sucli 
wonderful  news  in  it  that  I  thought  I  ought  to  come 
home  with  it  at  once." 

"  Wonderful  news  ?  "  repeated  Randy.  "  What  does 
he  say?" 

"  He  says  he  is  going  back  to  Alaska, — to  some  new 
gold  field  that  has  just  been  discovered  there, —  and  he 
wants  to  know  if  we  will  go  with  him." 


\ 


part  of  the 
If -past  nine, 
the  village, 
of  his  speed, 

;ried,  as  soon 
it's  got  such 
ught  to  come 

"  What  does 

-to  some  new 
here,— and  he 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  BOYS    REACH    A    DECISION. 

"Uncle  Foster  is  going  back  to  Alaska?"  said 
Randy,  slowly. 

"  Yes ;  he  is  going  to  start  almost  immediately,  too," 
added  his  elder  brotlier.  "  He  says  the  new  gold  dig- 
gings are  something  immense,  and  he  wants  to  stake  a 
cliiira  at  the  earliest  possible  date." 

Randy  drew  a  long  breath.  To  Alaska  I  What  a 
tremendous  trip  that  would  be  —  five  thousand  miles  at 
least  I  And  going  to  such  an  almost  unknown  region 
would  be  very  much  like  starting  for  the  north  pole. 

Me  remembered  well  that  his  Uncle  Foster  had  paid 
11  visit  to  Alaska  three  years  pre ,  .ous,  sailing  from 
San  Francisco  to  St.  Michael's  Island  and  then  taking 
a  Yukon  River  steamboat  to  a  trading  camp  known  as 
Fort  Cudahy.  They  had  received  several  letters  from 
him  while  he  was  up  there,  working  for  the  Alaskan 
Transportation  Company  part  of  the  time  and  hunting 
for  gold  whenever  the  opportunity  offered.  The  letters 
liad  told  of  the  intense  cold  and  the  suffering,  and  of 
numerous   unsucc«.  ssf^ul   attempts  to   strike    a   paying 

9 


10 


TO   ALASKA   FOR    (iOLD. 


I 


claim  around  Fort  Cudaliy  and  at  another  camp, 
known  as  Circle  C'ity.  His  uncle  had  taken  up  several 
claims,  but  they  had  not  j^anned  out  very  well,  and 
Mr.  Portney  had  finally  returned  to  the  United  States, 
to  interest  himself  in  a  Colorado  silver  mine. 

"  Let  me  see  tlie  letter,"  said  Randy,  and  Earl 
handed  it  over.  "  I  don't  see  how  we  are  to  pay  our 
way  to  Alaska  or  anywhere  else,"  added  the  younger 
boy,   ruefully,  as  he  opened  the  epistle. 

"  You  will  see  presently,"  rejoined  FjSlyI.  "  Read  it 
aloud.  Uncle  writes  such  a  twisted  hand,  I  want  to 
make  sure  1  read  aright."  And  Randy  started  at 
once  :  — 

"  Creedk,  Col.,  April  5. 

"My  dear  Nephews: —  I  suppose  you  have  been 
looking  for  a  letter  from  me  all  winter,  but  the  fact  is 
I  have  been  away  from  this  vicinity  since  last  Decem- 
ber. A  man  from  British  Columbia  wanted  me  to  buy 
an  interest  in  a  gold  mine  at  a  settlement  called 
Dunbar's,  and  I  went  with  him.  The  mine  proved  to 
be  worthless,  and  I  left  Dunbar's,  and  went  to  Victoria, 
and  stayed  there  until  three  weeks  ago. 

"  While  1  was  in  Victoria,  I  ran  across  two  miners 
whom  I  had  met  while  at  Fort  Cudahy  in  Alaska. 
They  reported  that  a  new  gold  field  had  been  discov- 
ered farther  up  the  Yukon  River,  at  a  place  known  as 
Klondike  Creek.  There  had  been  an  exodus  from 
Circle  City  and  Fort  Cudahy  to  this  new  region,  and  a 


THE  BOYS    REACfr    A  DECISION. 


11 


camp  known  as  Dawson  City  liad  been  started.  They 
said  that  there  were  about  a  duzen  small  creeks  flowinj^ 
into  the  Klondike  and  into  the  Yukon  at  this  point,  and 
that  it  was  reported  and  proved  that  the  entire  district 
was  rich  with  gold. 

"I  was  chary  of  believing  the  men  at  first,  for  I 
know  only  too  well  how  many  wild-cat  reports  start  up 
in  every  mining  camp.  But  a  couple  of  days  later  I 
heard  another  report  from  Juneau,  Alaska,  to  the 
effect  that  several  miners  had  come  down  from  this 
same  territory  by  way  of  the  lakes  and  Chilkoot  Pass, 
and  had  brought  with  them  over  thirty-five  thousand 
dollars  in  nuggets  and  gold  dust,  taken  out  of  a  place 
called  Hunker's  Creek,  which  runs  into  the  Klondike. 

"  From  these  reports,  and  from  others  which  are  float- 
ing around,  I  am  convinced  that  they  have  at  last  struck 
the  rich  vein  of  yellow  metal  which  I  always  believed 
would  be  located  there,  and  I  am  now  making  prepara- 
tions to  try  my  luck  again  in  tliat  territory,  and  if  you 
two  boys  want  to  go  along  and  think  you  can  stand  the 
climate,  which  is  something  awful  for  nine  months  in 
the  year,  I'll  see  you  through.  I  do  not  know  how  you 
are  fixed  for  cash,  but  I  have  been  lucky  in  Colorado, 
and  T  will  pay  all  expenses,  providing  you  will  agree  to 
remain  with  me  for  two  years,  working  as  I  work,  for  a 
i  one-half  interest  in  all  our  discoveries  —  that  is,  a  one- 
i  quarter  interest  to  each  of  you  and  a  one-half  interest 
to  myself     The  expense  of  a  year's  trip  to  Alaska  by 


I 


12 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


the  route  we  shall  take,  over  the  mountain  pass,  will  be 
between  six  and  eight  hundred  dollars  each,  for  we  shall 
have  to  take  nearly  all  our  outfits  —clothing,  tools,  and 
provisions  —  along. 

"  I  am  now  on  the  point  of  starting  for  San  Francisco, 
and  shall  arrive  there  probably  before  this  letter  reaches 
you.  My  address  will  be  the  Palace  Hotel,  and  I  wish 
you  to  telegraph  me  immediately,  at  my  expense,  if  you 
will  go  or  not.  Do  not  attempt  to  accept  my  offer 
unless  both  of  you  are  perfectly  well  and  strong  and 
willing  to  stand  great  hardships,  for  the  sake  of  what 
we  may  have  the  good  luck  to  find.  And  if  you  do 
go,  don't  blame  me  if  we  are  all  disappointed,  and  come 
home  poorer  than  we  went.    ■ 

"  If  you  accept  the  offer,  I  will  telegraph  you  suffi- 
cient money  to  Messrs.  Bartwell  &  Stone,  Boston,  to  pay 
your  fare  to  San  Francisco,  and  I  shall  expect  to  see  you 
at  the  latter  city  before  the  20tli  of  the  month,  for  I  am 
going  to  start  for  the  new  gold  fields,  even  if  I  have  to 
go  with  strangers,  as  soon  as  possible.  With  love  to  you 
both,  I  remain, 

"  Your  affectionate  uncle, 

"Foster  C.  Portney." 


"  Oh,  Earl,  let's  go !  "  burst  from  Randy's  lips  as  he 

finished  the   long  letter.      "  Tliis   is    just   what   Pve 

been  waiting  for.  Let's  go  to  Alaska  and  make  our 
fortunes ! " 


THE    150YS    KICACH    A   DKCISION. 


18 


will  be 
*ve  shall 
ols,  and 

ancisco, 
reaches 
1 1  wish 
3,  if  you 
iiy  offer 
mg  and 
of  what 
you  do 
nd  come 

on  suffi- 
n,  to  pay 

see  you 
for  1  am 

have  to 
re  to  you 


NEY. 

ips  as  he 
lat  I've 
ake  our 


1$. 
5» 


"Go  to  Alaska  and  be  frozen  to  death,  you  mean," 
replied  Karl ;  yet  lie  smiled  even  as  he  spoke.  "•  Do  you 
know  that  the  theiu.vmeter  goes  down  to  forty  degrees 
below  zero  out  there  in  winter?"" 

''  Well,  we're  used  to  roughing  it  out  here  in  these 
woods."" 

"  These  woods  can't  liold  a  candle  to  Alaska  for  bar- 
renness, Randy.  Think  of  a  winter  nine  months  long 
and  ice  all  the  year  round !  Uncle  said  in  one  of  his 
other  letters,  that  the  ground  never  thawed  out  more 
than  a  few  feet,  excepting  in  favored  localities." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  you'll  let  such  a  splendid  chance 
sli[)  by?"  demanded  the  younger  lad,  straightening  up 
and  looking  his  brother  full  in  the  face.  "  And  let  it 
slip,  too,  when  we're  in  such  trouble  here?" 

"  No,  I  didn't  say  that.  Handy.  Hut  we  ought  to 
consider  the  matter  carefully  before  we  make  up  our 
minds.  According  to  the  letter  we'll  have  to  spend  at 
least  two  years  in  the  gold  fields." 

"I'll  spend  ten  if  I  can  make  money." 

"•  Uncle  said  in  that  other  letter  that  no  one  seemed 
to  care  to  stay  in  the  upper  portion  of  Alaska  more  than 
two  or  three  years  at  a  time." 

"  Well,  I'm  in  for  the  trip,  heart  and  soul.  Hurrah 
for  the  —  what's  the  name  of  that  creek  ?  —  Klondike  I 
Hurrah  for  the  Klondike  !  I  wonder  if  it's  on  the 
map." 

Randy  rushed  over  to  the  little  shelf  which  contained 


» 


-'lWBMgb;.J-^ 


14 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


i 


all  the  school-books  the  family  had  ever  possessed,  and 
brought  forth  a  large  geography,  much  the  worse  for 
wear.  There  was  no  separate  map  of  Alaska,  but  there 
was  one  of  North  America,  and  this  he  scanned  witli 
interest. 

"  Here's  the  Yukon  and  here's  the  Porcupine  and  the 
Pelly  rivers,  but  I  don't  see  any  Klondike,"  he  said 
seriously.     "I  wonder  where  it  can  be." 

"You  can't  expect  to  find  a  little  creek  on  a  map 
that  shows  up  the  Yukon  River  as  less  than  two  inches 
long,"  said  Earl.  "Why,  the  Yukon  is  between  two 
and  three  thousand  miles  long.  Circle  City  must  be 
up  there,"  he  continued,  pointing  to  where  the  Yukon 
touclied  the  144°  of  longitude,  "  and  if  that's  so,  this 
new  gold  field  can't  be  so  very  far  off,  although  in  such 
a  gi  jat  territory  a  few  hundred  miles  this  way  or  that 
are  hardly  counted." 

"  But  you'll  go,  won't  you.  Earl?  "  pleaded  Randy,  as 
he  restored  the  geography  to  the  shelf.  "  We'll  never 
make  more  than  our  pork  and  beans  out  here  in  the 
woot^s." 

Earl  picked  up  a  small  stick  from  the  fireplace  and 
brought  out  his  pocket-knife.  He  always  had  to  go  to 
whittling  when  he  wanted  to  do  some  hard  thinking. 
"  If  we  accepted  Uncie  Foster's  invitation  to  come  to 
San  Francisco,  there  would  be  no  turning  back,"  he 
remarked,  after  a  moment  of  silence. 

*'  We  shouldn't  want  to  turn  back  as  soon  as  that." 


••Wv- 


\f 


t« 


THE   BOVS   REACH    A   DECISION. 


15 


jsed,  and 
i^orse  for 
3ut  there 
led  with 

}  and  the 
'  he  said 

n  a  map 
vo  inches 
^^een  two 
must  be 
e  Yukon 
s  so,  this 
in  such 
y  or  that 

landy,  as 
3'11  never 
re  in  the 

)lace  and 
L  to  go  to 
thinking. 


"  And  we  couldn't  turn  back  after  we  once  got  into 
Aliiska.  There  is  no  sucii  thing  as  travelling  back 
and  forth  between  the  months  of  October  and  May. 
The  rivers  freeze  up,  and  everything  is  snow  and 
ice." 

"  Well,  we'd  have  plenty  of  provisions  —  Uncle  would 
be  sure  to  see  to  that.  We've  got  to  vacate  here,  you 
must  remember,  in  a  day  or  two." 

Again  Earl  was  silent.  He  had  sharpenc  a  up  one 
end  of  the  stick,  and  now  he  turned  to  the  other.  "  I 
wonder  where  we  could  telegraph  from  best,"  he  said 
at  last. 

Randy's  eyes  lit  up  instantly,  and  he  caught  his  big 
brother  by  the  shoulder.  "  Good  for  you,  Earl ;  I  knew 
you  would  say  yes !  "  he  cried.  "  Why,  we  can  tele- 
grapli  from  Spruceville,  can't  we  ?  " 

"  We  can  if  they'll  trust  us  for  the  telegram." 

"  If  they  won't,  I'll  pay  for  it.  I'm  not  going  to  let 
such  a  chance  slide  by.  The  thing  of  it  is,"  Randy 
added,  sobering  down  suddenly,  "how  are  we  to  get 
to  Boston  to  get  the  money  Uncle  intends  to  send 
on  ?  " 

"We'll  have  to  sell  off  our  things  here.  They'll 
bring  in  something,  although  not  much." 

"  (lood  !     I  never  thought  of  that." 

For  two  hours  the  boys  talked  matters  over,  and  in 
the  excitement  dinner  was  entirely  forgotten.  Then  a 
telegram  was  prepared  which  ran  as  follows  :  — 


16 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


it 


"  Will  sell  out  and  come  on  as  soon  as  possible. 


»» 


M 


It  was  agreed  that  Earl  should  send  the  message  from 
Spruceville,  a  town  four  miles  beyond  Basco.  This 
was  a  seven  miles'  tramp,  but  he  did  not  mind  it,  hav- 
ing walked  the  distance  many  times  previously.  He 
procured  a  bite  to  eat,  and  with  the  letter  from  his 
uncle  in  his  pocket  he  started  off.  He  intended  to  show 
the  letter  to  the  telegraph  operator  in  case  the  man 
should  hesitate  to  send  the  message  with  charges  to  be 
paid  at  the  other  end. 

At  Basco,  Earl  met  a  number  of  workmen  of  the  dis- 
trict, among  whom  was  Tom  Roland,  the  brother  of  the 
lumberman  who  intended  to  buy  the  timber  land  from 
Caleb  Norcross.  Roland  was  a  man  whom  nobody 
liked,  and  Earl  passed  him  without  a  word,  although  it 
was  evident  from  Roland's  manner  that  the  latter  de- 
sired to  stop  for  a  talk.  With  Tom  Roland  was  a 
fellow  named  Guardley,  a  ne'er-do-well,  who  had  been 
up  before  the  squire  on  more  than  one  occasion  for 
drinking  and  stealing.  The  reader  will  do  well  to 
remember  both  Torn  Roland  and  Guardley,  for  they 
are  destined  to  play  a  most  important  part  in  the  chap- 
ters which  follow. 

The  middle  of  the  afternoon  had  passed  before  Earl 
struck  the  outskirts  of  Spruceville  and  made  his  way 
to  the  little  railroad  station  where  was  located  the  tele- 
graph office.     His  errand  was  soon  explained  to  the 


THE   BOYS    REACH   A    DECISION. 


17 


e. 


?» 


^e  from 
!  This 
it,  hav- 
y.  He 
[•oin  his 
bo  show 
he  man 
es  to  be 


young  man  in  charge,  and  he  felt  in  his  pocket  to  hring 
fortli  tlie  slip  of  paper  Handy  had  written  out,  and  his 
uncle's  letter. 

To  his  consternation  both  were  missing.  He  remem- 
bered well  where  he  had  placed  them,  yet  to  make  sure 
he  searched  his  clothing  tlioroughly.  His  search  was 
useless.     The  message  and  the  letter  were  gone. 


the  dis- 
r  of  the 
[id  from 
nobody 
lOUgh  it 
tter  de- 
was  a 
.  been 
ion  for 
well  to 
>r  they 
e  chap- 


re  Earl 
lis  way 
le  tele- 
to  the 


'.T^ 


r 


\. 


CHAPTER  III. 


A   FALSE   IDENTIFICATION. 


"  Gone  ! " 

That  was  the  single  word  which  dropped  from  Earl's 
lips  as  he  stood  at  the  window  of  the  telegrapli  office  at 
Spruceville  and  hunted  for  the  missing  letter  from  his 
Uncle  Foster.  He  cared  nothing  for  the  message, — 
that  could  easily  be  rewritten,  —  but  the  letter  was 
highly  important. 

Not  finding  it  about  his  person,  he  commenced  to  re- 
trace his  steps  with  his  eyes  on  the  ground.  An  liour 
was  spent  in  this  manner,  and  then  he  returned  slowly 
to  the  office. 

"  I  want  to  send  a  message  to  San  Francisco,  and  I  had 
a  letter  with  me  to  show  that  it  was  all  right,"  he  ex- 
plained. "  Will  you  send  the  message  anyliow  and  col- 
lect at  the  other  end  ?  The  man  who  is  to  receive  the 
message  wanted  it  sent  that  way." 

The  telegraph  operator  mused  for  a  moment.  Then 
he  asked  Earl  who  he  was  and  where  he  lived,  and  fin- 
ally said  he  guessed  it  would  be  all  right.  The  message 
was  again  written  out,  and  ten  minutes  later  it  was  on 
its  long  journey  westward,  by  way  of  Boston.    The  busi- 

18 


A    FALSE    IDKNTIFKATION. 


19 


ness  finishefl,  Eiirl  tliaiiked  the  opuriiior  and  started  on 
liis  return  lionie. 

He  was  very  iniicli  out  of  sorts  witli  himself,  and 
wondered  what  his  younger  brother  wouhl  think  of 
liini.  "  I  needn't  find  fault  with  Kandy  for  being  eare- 
less  after  this,"  he  sighed,  almost  bitterly.  "  I'm  as 
bad  as  he  is,  and  v/orse.  One  thing  is  a  comfort,  though  : 
I  remember  the  name  of  that  Boston  firm  that  is  to 
provide  us  with  our  money —  Bartwell  &  Stone.  1  had 
better  make  a  note  of  that."     And  he  did. 

The  evening  sliadows  were  beginning  to  fall  when 
Hasco  was  again  reached.  On  the  main  street  of  the 
little  town  Earl  halted  to  think  matters  over.  Why 
wouldn't  it  be  a  good  thing  to  let  folks  know  that  they 
wanted  to  sell  out  their  household  goods  and  tlieir 
tools  and  other  tilings  ?  He  made  his  way  to  the  gen- 
eral store. 

"  Well,  Portney,  I  heard  you  had  been  put  off  your 
place,"  was  the  greeting  received  from  tlie  general  store- 
keeper. 

*'  We  have  not  been  put  off —  we  are  going  to  leave 
it,  Mr.  Andrews." 

"  Oh !     Where  are  you  going  ?  " 

"To  Alaska." 

"Alaska?     You  must  be  joking." 

"  No,  sir.  My  uncle,  Foster  Portney,  has  sent  for 
Randy  and  me  to  come  to  San  Francisco,  and  the  three 
of  us  are  going  to  some  new  gold  fields." 


•^»IIU    t..  i|     If  II     •.»,i.'»«  - 


i 


i  i)> 


snr 


20 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


*'Well,  what  about  iny  bill?"'  asked  the  storekeeper, 
anxiously.  lie  was  interested  in  but  little  outside  of 
his  l)usiness.  ''  Of  course  that  has  got  to  be  settled  be- 
fore you  leave." 

"  We  will  pay  up,  never  fear.  Hut  we  want  to  sell 
off  all  our  stuff  lirst.  Will  you  let  me  write  out  a  notice 
to  that  effect  and  post  it  outside  ?  " 

"Yes,  you  can  do  that.  Going  to  sell  off,  eh? 
What  have  you  got?  " 

Earl  enumerated  the  various  articles  he  and  Randy 
liad  listed  to  sell.  They  were  not  of  great  value,  and 
the  storekeeper  smiled  grimly. 

"They  won't  bring  much." 

"  They  ought  to  bring  thirty  or  forty  dollars. " 

"  You'll  be  lucky  to  get  ten." 

"Ten  dollars  won't  see  us  through.  We  have  got 
to  get  enough  to  pay  our  bills  and  secure  our  passage 
down  to  Boston." 

"And  how  much  will  that  be?"  questioned  Peleg 
Andrews,  cautiously.  Earl  made  a  rapid  calculation. 
With  the  money  already  on  hand  and  that  owing  for 
tools  and  groceries,  twenty-five  dollars  ought  to  see 
them  through. 

"We  must  have  thirty  dollars  for  the  stuff." 

Peleg  Andrews  said  no  more,  but  turned  away  to 
wait  on  a  customer  that  had  just  come  in.  Procuring 
sheets  of  paper.  Earl  set  to  work  and  penned  two 
notices,  both  alike,  stating  that  the  goods  and  chattels 


I 


-t 


A   FALSE   IDENTIFICATION. 


21 


ikeeper, 
[side  of 
tied  be- 
to  sell 
a  notice 

)ff,   eh? 

Randy 
lue,  and 


ave  got 
massage 

Peleif- 
ulation. 
ring  for 

to   see 


way  to 
ocuring 
ed  two 
liattels 


of  tlie  Poi'tney  brothers  would  be  sold  within  the  next 
three  days,  to  the  highest  bidders,  and  a  list  of  the 
articles  followed.  One  of  the  notices  was  tacked  up  in 
front  of  the  store  and  the  other  in  front  of  the  hotel, 
and  then  Earl  returned  home. 

As  the  big  brother  had  expected.  Randy  was  much 
put  out  about  the  loss  of  the  letter,  but  he  was  glad 
that  Earl  had  gone  ahead,  nevertheless,  and  before  he 
retired  that  night,  he  brought  forth  some  of  the  arti- 
cles to  be  sold,  and  mended  and  cleaned  them  up. 

Tlie  two  were  eating  breakfast  when  the  first 
prospective  buyer  rode  up  in  a  farm  wagon.  It  was  a 
lumberman  from  over  the  ridge  behind  Basco,  who  Avas 
thinking  of  settling  down  to  cabin  life  by  himself. 
He  made  an  offer  of  fifteen  dollars  for  everything  in 
sight,  but  Earl  held  out  for  forty  dollars. 

The  man  was  about  to  drive  away,  when  a  second 
lumberman  drove  up,  followed  by  Peleg  Andrews  in 
his  store  wagon.  Both  of  the  newcomers  were  eager 
to  buy,  although  they  affected  indifference.  Bidding 
Ijecame  rather  lively,  and  at  last  the  goods  were  split 
up  between  the  first  comer  and  the  storekeeper,  the 
former  paying  thirty  dollars  and  the  latter  twenty 
dollars  for  what  they  got.  This  made  fifty  dollars  In 
all,  and  out  of  this  amount  Earl  settled  with  Peleg 
Andrews  on  the  spot. 

It  was  while  the  men  were  loading  the  goods  pre- 
paratory to  taking  them    away,  that  Caleb   Norcross 


4- 

u 

^1 


I 


22 


TO   ALASKA    FOli   (lOI.D. 


appeared.  He  had  expected  to  make  a  cluiap  pur- 
chase, and  was  keenly  disappointed  to  find  he  was 
too  late. 

"  Getting  out,  eh  ?  "  he  ventured. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Earl,  briefly.  "  You  can  have 
your  keys  in  a  couple  of  hours.     Here  is  your  money." 

"  1  ain't  in  any  hurry,"  grumbled  the  landlord. 

"Isn't  Dan  Roland  going  to  take  the  property?" 
asked  Randy,  curiously. 

"  No,  he  backed  out  last  night,"  answered  Caleb 
Norcross,  and  to  avoid  being  questioned  further  he 
moved  away. 

Fortunately  for  the  two  boys,  there  was  an  old  trunk 
in  the  cabin,  and  also  a  small  wooden  box  which  could 
be  made  to  hold  clothing,  and  these  they  packed  with 
such  effects  as  they  intended  to  take  along.  A  bargain 
was  struck  with  the  man  who  had  failed  to  purchase 
any  of  the  other  goods,  and  the  two  boxes  were  placed 
in  his  wagon,  and  then  the  lads  were  ready  to  leave  the 
spot  which  had  been  their  home  for  many  years. 

"  Well,  I'm  sure  I  wish  you  success,"  said  Peleg  An- 
drews, as  he  shook  each  by  the  hand.  "But  it  looks 
foolhardy  to  me  —  going  away  off  to  Alaska." 

"  You'll  be  glad  enough  to  come  back  home,  see  if 
you  don't,"  put  in  Caleb  Norcross.  He  did  not  offer  to 
shake  hands,  at  which  the  boys  were  just  as  well  satis- 
fied. In  a  minute  more  the  brothers  were  up  beside  the 
lumberman  on  the  wagon  seat,  the  whip  cracked,  and 


f 


II 

Si 


A    KALSK    IDrCNTIKICATlON. 


28 


tliu  liorso  .started;  aiul  the  long  trip  to  Alaska  could  bu 
said  to  have  fairly  begun. 

A  stop  was  made  at  Basco,  where  Earl  settled  u[) 
such  bills  as  still  remained  unpaid,  and  then  the  horse 
set  off  on  a  trot  for  Sprueeville,  which  was  reached 
less  than  three-quarters  of  an  hour  later.  At  the 
latter  place  a  way  train  for  Bangor  was  due,  and 
they  had  barely  time  to  procure  tickets  and  get  their 
baggage  checked  before  it  came  along  and  took  them 
on  board. 

"  We've  made  a  flying  start  and  no  mistake,"  was 
Randy's  comment,  as  he  leaned  back  in  the  cusliioned 
seat.  "  Two  days  ago  we  never  dreamed  of  going  to 
Alaska  or  anywhere  else." 

"  I  hope  we  haven't  any  cause  to  regret  our  hasty 
action,"  answered  Earl,  gravely.  Tlien  he  immediately 
brightened  up.  "  But  we've  started  now,  so  let  us 
make  the  most  of  it." 

The  ride  over  the  rough  roads  had  made  them  hungry, 
but  they  had  to  wait  until  l^angor  was  reached  before 
they  could  obtain  anything  to  eat.  It  was  late  in  the 
evening  when  the  train  rolled  into  the  station  and  they 
alighted.  lioth  boys  had  been  in  Bangor  several  times, 
so  they  did  not  feel  quite  like  strangers.  Having  ob- 
tained supper  at  a  restaurant,  they  made  their  way  to 
the  river  docks  and  asked  concerning  the  boat  for  Bos- 
ton, having  decided  to  make  that  trip  by  water.  The 
boat  was  in,  and  having  procured  their  passage,  they 


I 


!  1 


ill 


.d 


i    ■  ■'»■ 


'■'i 


itil 


ll^ 


i 


1 


24 


TO   ALASKA    FOR    fJOLD. 


w(;rc  privileged  to  go  on  board  and  sleep  there  over- 
night. 

The  trip  to  Boston  was  an  uneventful  one,  although 
full  of  novelty  to  Earl  and  Randy,  who  had  never  taken 
such  a  voyage  before.  They  might  have  enjoyed  it 
still  more  had  they  not  been  so  anxious  concerning  what 
was  before  them.  Alas  !  little  did  they  dream  of  all 
the  grave  perils  the  future  held  in  store. 

"  We  don't  want  to  look  too  green,"  said  Earl,  when 
the  steamboat  was  tying  up  at  her  wharf  and  the  pas- 
sengers were  preparing  to  go  ashore. 

"  Oh,  I  guess  we'll  pass  in  a  crowd,"  said  Randy, 
laughing.  "  All  we  want  to  look  out  for  is  that  we 
are  not  robbed,  or  something  like  that." 

Leaving  their  baggage  on  check,  the  two  boys  started 
from  Foster's  wharf  up  into  the  city.  They  had  no  idea 
where  the  firm  of  Bartwell  &  Stone  were  located,  but 
Earl  was  certain  they  could  easily  be  found  by  consult- 
ing a  directory. 

The  elder  brother  was  on  the  point  of  entering  a  large 
store  in  quest  of  the  Imok  mentioned  when  Randy 
pulled  his  arm  and  pointed  down  the  street.  "  There 
goes  a  fire  engine,  Enil.  \  "  he  cried.  "  Let's  follow 
it.  I  should  like  to  see  how  they  manage  a  fire  in  a 
city." 

Earl  was  willing,  and  away  they  went,  easily  keeping 
up  with  the  engine,  which  had  to  proceed  slowly  through 
the  crowded  thoroughfare.     The  fire  was  in  a  paint  and 


I 


A    KALSK    TDENTirKWTION. 


25 


oil  works,  and  burnt  fiorcely  for  over  an  hour  before  it 
was  gotten  under  control.  The  boys  lingered  around, 
watcMng  the  movements  of  the  firemen  with  keen  inter- 
est, and  it  was  two  hours  later  before  Earl  eauglit 
Handy  by  the  shoulder  and  hauled  him  out  of  the  mob 
of  people. 

"  Remember,  we're  bound  for  Alaska,"  he  said.  "We 
can't  afford  to  stop  at  every  sight  on  the  way." 

A  few  blocks  further  on  a  directory  was  found  in  a 
drug  store  and  the  address  of  liartwell  &  Stone  jotted 
down.  They  lost  no  further  time  in  hunting  up  the 
firm  of  bankers  and  brokers,  who  occupied  the  ground 
floor  of  a  substantial  business  structure. 

"  I  am  Earl  Portney,"  explained  Earl,  to  the  clerk 
who  asked  them  what  they  wanted.  "This  is  my 
brother  Randolph.  Our  uncle,  Foster  Portney,  said 
he  would  send  on  some  money  for  us  from  San  Fran- 
cisco.    Has  it  arrived  yet  ?  " 

"  I'll  see.     Was  it  a  telegraph  order  ?  " 

"  I  suppose  so." 

The  clerk  disappeared  into  an  inner  apartment,  to 
be  gone  several  minutes.  When  he  came  out  he 
was  accompanied  by  a  tall,  sliarp-eyed  man  in  rusty 
black. 

"These  are  not  the  young  men  who  called  for  the 
money,"  said  the  man  in  rusty  black.  "  There  must 
be  some  mistake  here." 

"  Were  the  other  men  identified,  Mr.  Stone  ?  "  ques- 


'  ii 


f 


26 


TO  ALASKA  FOR  GOLD. 


tioned  the  clerk,  while  both  Randy  and  Earl  pricked 
up  their  ears. 

"Oh,  yes;  a  clerk  from  Johnston's  restaurant  identi- 
fied  them  as  Earl  and  Randolph  Portney.      Besides 
they  held  the  original  letter  which  had  been  sent  by 
their  uncle,  Foster  Portney,  from  San  Francisco." 


CHAPTER  IV. 


A  SERIOUS  SET-BACK. 


Wi 


Earl  and  Randy  could  scarcely  believe  their  ears. 
What  was  this  gentleman  in  rusty  black  saying,  that 
two  men  had  been  identified  as  themselves  and  liad 
called  for  the  money  sent  on  by  tlieir  Uncle  Foster? 

"  There  is  a  mistake  somewhere,"  said  the  clerk, 
turning  to  the  brothers.  "  You  say  you  are  Earl  and 
Randolph  Portney  ?  " 

"  We  are,"  both  replied,  in  a  breath. 

"  Two  men  were  here  not  two  hours  ago  and  were 
identified  as  the  ones  to  receive  the  money.  They  had 
a  letter  from  their  uncle,  in  which  he  wanted  them  to 
come  to  San  Francisco  and  join  him  in  a  trip  to 
Alaska." 

"That  letter  was  ours!  "  burst  out  Earl.  "I  lost  it 
a  couple  of  days  ago." 

The  clerk  turned  to  the  elderly  gentleman,  who 
looked  more  serious  than  ever. 

Have  you  any  idea  who  those  men  were?"  asked 
gentleman. 

They  v/ere  a  couple  of  thieves,  that's  certain,"  said 

27 


^■i 


(( 


lt?fi 


28 


TO   ALASKA   FOIL   GOLD. 


i 


11 
■I 


Randy,  bluntly.  "  The  money  was  to  come  to  us  and 
nobody  else." 

"  Where  did  you  lose  that  letter  ?  " 

"  I  lost  it  on  the  road  between  Naddy  Brook  and 
Spruceville,"  replied  Earl,  and  p":ive  some  of  tlie  par- 
ticulars. The  full  story  of  his  uncle's  offer  to  Randy 
and  himself  followed,  to  which  Mr.  Stone  listened 
closely.  He  was  a  fair  judge  of  human  nature,  and  saw 
at  once  that  the  two  boys  were  no  sharpers  and  that 
their  story  ^yas  most  likely  true. 

"Well,  if  you  are  the  real  Portney  brothers.  ;7'.^  ■'■•(■j 
out  exactly  three  hundred  dollars,"  he  said,  after  con- 
siderable talking.  "  I  paid  over  that  money  in  good 
faith,  too,  on  the  strengti.  of  the  letter  and  the  identi- 
fication." 

"  We  had  nothing  to  do  with  that,"  answered  Earl, 
stoutly,  feeling  he  must  stand  up  for  his  rights. 

"  Of  course  not,  but  —  Just  wait  here  a  few  min- 
utes, and  I'll  try  to  find  that  clerk  from  the  restaurant 
who  identified  the  rascals." 

Mr.  Stone  put  on  a  silk  hat  and  went  out,  to  be  gone 
nearly  or  quite  half  an  hour.  He  returned  accom- 
panied by  another  man  —  a  police  official  —  to  Avhom 
the  particulars  of  the  occurrence  had  been  given. 

"  That  identification  was  also  part  of  tlie  swindle," 
the  broker  explained.  "  I  could  not  find  the  clerk  at  the 
restaurant,  and  I  am  convinced  now  that  he  W£  - 1*  t  the 
man  he  made  me  believe  he  was." 


A  SERIOUS   SET-E\CK. 


29 


^ 
t 


"But  what  about  our  money?"  said  Earl,  coldly, 
thinking  the  broker  might  try  to  shift  the  responsi- 
bility of  the  affair. 

"  If  you  can  find  some  reliable  party  known  to  us  to 
identify  you,  I  will  pay  the  sum  to  you,"  was  the  an- 
swer. "  But  I've  got  to  be  sure  of  the  identification 
this  time  —  and  you  can't  blame  me  for  that,"  added 
the  broker,  with  a  short  laugh. 

"  No,  we  can't  blame  you  for  that,"  repeated  Earl, 
yet  at  the  same  time  wondering  who  there  was  in  thit 
strange  city  who  knew  them. 

"  I  don't  know  of  any  one  here  who  knows  us,"  put  in 
Randy,  reading  his  elder  brother's  thought.  "  1  wish 
Uncle  had  sent  the  money  in  some  other  way." 

"  See  here,"  put  in  the  police  of.lcial.  "  Since  those 
swindlers  had  the  letter  that  was  lost  up  near  where 
you  come  from,  perhaps  you  know  the  men.  Mr.  Stone, 
can't  you  describe  them  ?  " 

As  weU.  as  he  was  able  the  broker  did  so.  But  the 
description  was  so  indefinite  that  both  Earl  and  Randy 
shook  their  heads. 

"  I  know  a  dozen  men  who  look  a  good  deal  like  that 
description,"  said  the  older  brother.  "  It's  possible 
they  were  lumbermen  like  ourselves." 

"  Yes,  they  did  louk  like  lumbermen,"  replied  Mr. 
Stone.  "  That  is  why  I  was  not  so  particular  about 
their  identification." 

For  another  half  hour  the  matter  was  talked  over. 


1 


ii 


m     miili 


■til 


m 


f  ■  i  i 

i 


i  t;i 


80 


TO   ALASKA    FOR   GOLD. 


a 


and  then  as  it  was  ^-etting  time  to  close  up  the  office 
for  the  day,  Earl  and  Handy  left,  to  find  some  one  to 
identify  them,  were  such  a  thing  possible.  At  the  cor- 
ner of  the  block  both  halted. 

"  I'm  blessed  if  I  know  what  to  do,"  were  Randy's 
words.  "  I  can't  think  of  a  soul  who  knows  us 
here." 

"  There  used  to  be  a  man  named  Curtis  Gordon  who 
once  h  °i  at  Basco — he  owned  the  feed  mill  there. 
He  came  3oston  and  started  a  flour  business.  But 
whether  he  would  remember  me  is  a  question.  He 
hasn't  seen  me  in  about  eight  years." 

"  We  might  try  him  —  it  would  be  better  than  noth- 
ing! "  cried  Randy,  eagerly.  "Let  us  hunt  him  up  in 
the  directory." 

This  was  done,  and  they  found  Mr.  Curtis  Gordon's 
place  of  business  after  a  search  lasting  over  an  hour. 
Several  clerks  were  in  attendance  who  supplied  the 
information  that  Mr.  Gordon  had  gone  to  New  York, 
and  would  not  be  back  for  two  days. 

'*  Stumped  again,"  murmured  Randy,  dismally. 
"Did  you  ever  see  such  luck  !  " 

"  Never  give  up,"  answered  Earl,  as  cheerfully  as  he 
could.     "  I  wonder  if  Mrs.  Gordon  lives  in  town.'* 

"  What  if  she  does  ?  " 

"  I'd  call  on  her,  and  perhaps  she  can  help  us 'out. 
She  used  to  know  me." 

From  the  clerks  in  the  store  they  received  the  Gor- 


A  SERIOUS   SET-BACK. 


81 


dons'  home  address.  It  was  a  fine  place  on  the  Back 
Bay,  and  it  was  nightfall  by  the  time  the  boys  reached 
it.  They  were  ushered  into  the  waiting-hall  by  a 
servant,  who  immediately  went  off  to  notify  her  mis- 
tress, who  was  at  dinner. 

From  the  dining-room  came  a  murmur  of  talking, 
and  one  of  the  voices  sounded  strangely  familiar  to 
Earl.  "  Hark,  Randy,"  he  whispered.  "  Isn't  that 
Squire  Dobson  speaking?" 

"  It  is  I  "  ejaculated  Randy.  "  We  are  saved  at 
last  I  " 

Mrs.  Gordon  came  to  them  a  minute  later,  having 
excused  herself  to  her  guest.  The  boys'  mission  was 
soon  explained.  Earl  at  the  same  time  offering  an 
excuse  for  calling  at  the  meal  hour.  He  mentioned 
Squire  Dobson,  and  that  individual  was  called  from 
the  table. 

"  Well,  well  I "  exclaimed  the  squire  of  Basco,  a 
short,  stout,  and  rather  jolly  type  of  a  country  official. 
"I  didn't  expect  to  see  you  in  Boston,  although  I 
heard  yesterday  that  you  were  bound  for  Alaska  or 
some  such  place.  Mrs.  Gordon,  these  are  Daniel  Port- 
ney's  boys,  —  you  must  remember  Daniel  Portney,  —  the 
one  who  lost  his  life  in  that  dreadful  forest  fire  up  our 
wiiy  some  years  ago." 

Mrs.  Gordon  did  remember,  and  she  gave  both  lads 
a  warm  greeting.  It  was  several  minutes  before  Earl 
could  get  down  to  business,  and  then  the  matter  of  iden- 


m 


'A 


!U 


smL 

i    f              \ 

'ill 


j;|! 


m:; 


32 


TO    ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


II 


I     ' 

1 


tification  was  left  to  Squire  Dobson,  who  said  lie  would 
see  them  through  in  the  morning,  as  soon  as  the  Bart- 
well  &  Stone  offices  were  open. 

"  I  don't  know  them,"  he  said,  "  but  I  know  some 
bankers  on  the  same  block,  and  we  can  introduce  each 
other." 

Mrs.  Gordon  was  glad  enough  to  see  some  folks  from 
the  district  which  had  once  been  her  home,  and  asked 
the  brothers  to  partake  of  dinner  with  the  squire  an<l 
her  family  of  boys  and  girls.  After  some  hesitation,  the 
invitation  was  accepted,  and  two  hours  were  spent  at 
the  mansion. 

During  the  course  of  this  time  it  was  learned  by  Earl 
and  Randy  that  Squire  Dobson  had  come  down  from 
Maine  in  search  of  his  son,  a  happy-go-lucky  lad,  who 
had  run  away  from  home,  as  previously  mentioned. 
The  squire  had  heard  from  a  iriend  that  Fred  had  been 
seen  near  the  docks  in  Boston,  but  he  had  been  unable 
so  far  to  locate  the  wayward  youth. 

"  I'm  afraid  he  has  either  gone  to  New  York  or  on 
some  long  ocean  trip,"  said  the  squire  to  Earl.  "  He's 
a  foolish  boy  and  is  causing  me  no  end  of  trouble.  If 
you  ever  run  across  him,  send  him  home  at  once." 

"  I  will  —  if  he'll  go,"  answered  Earl ;  but  neither  he 
nor  Randy  ever  dreamed  of  meeting  Fred  Dobson  where 
they  did. 

The  visit  over,  the  brothers  left,  to  hunt  up  some 
cheap  hotel  at  which  to  stop  for  the  night.     This  was 


A 


A  SERIOUS   SET-BACK. 


83 


an  easy  matter,  and  at  ten  o'clock  they  retired.  A 
sound  sleej),  liowever,  was  out  of  the  question,  for  hoth 
were  anxious  concerning  the  outcome  of  their  dealings 
with  Bartwell  &  Stone. 

Promptly  at  the  hour  appointed  they  met  the  squire  at 
tlie  office  of  the  brokers  and  bankers.  Another  banker, 
\vell  known  to  both  Squire  Dobson  and  to  Mr.  Stone, 
was  introduced  all  around,  and  thus  Kandy  and  Earl's 
identification  was  establis'aed  beyond  a  doubt.  This 
accomplished,  Earl  received  three  hundred  dollars  in 
cash,  for  which  he  and  Handy  signed  a  receipt;  and 
the  transaction  was  over. 

Just  outside  of  the  office,  the  boys  separated  from  the 
squire  of  Basco,  and  the  former  lost  no  time  in  making 
their  way  to  the  depot  of  the  New  York  &  New  Eng- 
land Railroad. 

"  I  don't  know  what  route  is  best  to  take  to  San 
Francisco,"  said  Earl.  "  I  guess  we  had  better  l)uy 
tickets  as  far  as  New  York  firsts"  And  this  was  done ; 
and  a  few  hours  later  saw  them  safe  on  board  a  train, 
with  their  baggage  in  the  car  ahead.  At  the  depot  Eurl 
had  obtained  a  number  of  folders  of  different  routes  to 
the  west,  and  these  he  intended  to  study  while  on  his 
way  to  the  great  metropolis. 

"  Oh,  but  railroad  travelling  is  fine  !  "  cried  Randy, 
enthusiastically,  as  the  long  train  sped  on  its  way 
through  hills  and  valleys,  and  past  numerous  pretty 
towns  and  villages,  all  alive  with  the  hum  of  a  thousand 


!| 


Vi 


n-. 


"'iJ! 


'}■  Im 


-:  'h't 


f  ;1 


ft  I 


*M 


•  m: 


tl' 


\U 


1 


34 


TO   ALASKA    FOR   GOLD. 


industries.  "  One  feels  as  if  he  would  like  to  ride 
forever  !  " 

"  I'm  afraid  you'll  be  tired  of  riding  by  the  time  we 
reach  San  Francisco,"  said  Earl,  who,  nevertheless,  also 
enjoyed  the  journey.  "  This  is  only  a  little  trip  of  six 
or  seven  hours.  The  next  will  be  one  of  many  days 
and  nights." 

"  I  wonder  how  they  sleep  on  a  train,"  went  on 
Randy,  curiously. 

"  We'll  learn  soon  enough.  Randy.  Only  don't  let 
every  one  see  how  green  we  are,"  added  Earl,  in  a 
whisper. 

At  one  of  the  stations  in  Connecticut,  where  a  ten 
minutes'  stop  was  made,  the  two  lads  alighted  to  stretch 
their  legs  and  take  a  look  around.  They  had  been 
seated  in  the  last  car,  and  now  they  walked  forward 
along  the  broad  platform. 

Suddenly  Randy  caught  his  brother's  arm.  "  Earl  ! 
Earl  !  look  !  "  he  ejaculated,  and  pointed  to  a  window 
of  th^  smoking-car.  "  There  are  Tom  Roland  and  Jas- 
per Guardley  !     What  can  they  be  doing  on  this  train  ?  " 

Earl  glanced  to  where  Randy  pointed  and  saw  that 
his  brother  was  right.  At  the  same  instant  Tom  Ro- 
land saw  them,  and  he  drew  back  and  motioned  for  his 
Companion  to  do  the  same.  Earl  noted  the  movement 
and  stood  stock-still. 

"  Randy,  I  wonder  — "  he  began,  and  stopped 
short. 


A   SERIOUS   SET-BACK. 


35 


"  What,  Earl  ?  Isn't  it  queer  they  should  be  on  this 
train  from  Boston  ?  "  * 

"  Yes.  Randy,  do  you  think  it  is  possible  that  Tom 
Roland  would  be  so  dishonest  as  to  —  to  —  " 

"  To  get  that  money,  Earl?"  broke  in  the  younger 
boy.  "He  might  be  — and  yes,  Mr.  Stone's  descrip- 
tion of  the  two  swindlers  fits  Roland  and  Guardley 
exactly  ! " 


i     $ 


m 


i  ; 


! 


,  1 
K  ' 

1  I 


CHAPTER  V. 


A   NKlllT    IN    NEW    YOUK. 


ii  ( 


V 
■  I 

: 


''The  description  certainly  does  fit  these  two  men," 
said  Karl,  witli  .some  hesitat'on.  "  And  it  is  queer 
that  lloland  siiould  be  down  here,  when  only  a  few 
days  ago  he  was  in  Basco.  (iluardley,  I  know,  is  not 
above  cheatini(  —  he's  been  up  before  Squire  Dobson 
several  times  lor  it." 

'"'  Let  us  go  and  have  a  talk  with  them,"  said  Randy, 
im})idsively.  ''If  they  stole  that  money,  I  want  to 
know  it." 

"  It's  not  our  business  to  hunt  those  swindlers  up," 
answered  Earl,  hesitatingly;  yet  he  followed  Randy 
to  the  platform  of  the  smoking-car,  and  they  were 
soon  inside,  and  making  their  way  to  where  Roland 
and  Guardley  sat,  pulling  away  at  two  black-looking 


cigars. 


"  How  do  you  do,  Earl  ? "  said  Tom  Roland,  famil- 
iarly, as  soon  as  the  boys  appeared.  "It'«  queer  we 
should  be  on  the  same  train,  isn't  it  ?  " 

"It  is  queer,"  answered  Earl,  stiffly,  taken  aback  by 
the  greeting.     "  Where  are  you  bound  ?  " 

86 


■iueiiBinmi.inwpMwiinwimm.miiii 


A  nr;iit  in  nkw  vokk. 


37 


*"  (Juardloy  and  I  are  goiii^  to  try  our  liKik  in  th« 
West.  Say,  I  lieard  you  boys  wuru  bound  for  iVlaska. 
Is  that  true?" 

"  Yes." 

"It  costs  a  heap  to  ^o  tliero  —  didn't  know  you  had 
so  much  money,"  put  in  (iluardley,  with  a  smile  tliat 
neither  Earl  nor  Randy  appreciated. 

"  And  I  didn't  know  you  had  any  money  for  a  West- 
ern trip,"  returned  the  older  brother,  rather  shar|)ly. 

"  Oh,  Tom  here  is  seeing  me  through,"  answered 
Guardley ;  but  both  Randy  and  Karl  noted  that  he 
appeared  somewhat  confused  for  the  moment. 

"  Guardley  has  done  me  several  good  turns,  and  it 
wouldn't  be  fair  for  me  to  turn  my  back  on  him," 
finished  Tom  Roland.  "  We  are  going  right  through 
to  San  Francisco.  How  about  yourselves  ?  " 
We  stop  off  at  New  York,"  said  Randy. 
It's  a  pity  we  can't  travel  together  — "  began 
Roland,  when  Earl  cut  him  short. 

"  Roland,  did  you  pick  up  a  letter  belonging  to 
me  ? "  asked  the  boy. 

The  man's  eyes  dropped,  but  only  for  the  fraction 
of  a  second.  "A  letter  belonging  to  you?"  he  re- 
peated.    "  No.     Where  did  you  lose  it  ?  " 

"  Somewhere  around  Basco.  Did  you  see  it.  Guard- 
ley?" 

The  second  man  shook  his  head.  "  Was  it  impor- 
tant?" he  asked. 


(( 


a 


■II 


If 


ifii 


M 

i-*i 


\4 


:{8 


TO    ALASKA    KOIi    (JOLD. 


I '  I'',' 


"  Very/'  said  Ea.-i,  laconically,  and  then,  as  the 
train  began  to  move  again  he  motioned  to  Kandy,  and 
the  two  started  back  for  their  seat  in  the  last  car. 

"  What  do  you  think  ? "  questioned  Kandy,  when 
they  were  seated. 

"I  don't  know  what  to  think.  It's  mighty  queer 
the  pair  should  leave  Basco  in  such  a  hurry." 

"  We  left  in  a  hurry.     But  we  had  a  good  reason." 

"And  they  may  have  —  a  reason  most  folks  don't 
look  for." 

*'  Do  you  think  they  left  on  account  of  some  crooked 
work  ?  "  cried  Randy. 

"  That  would  probably  be  Jasper  Guardley's  tp  m 
for  getting  away.  But  it's  not  our  affair,  and  we  3 
enough  other  matters  to  think  of,"  concluded  Earl, 
after  a  pause.  "  When  we  get  to  New  York  we'll 
be  like  stray  cattle  in  a  hundred-acre  lot.  We  must 
look  out  not  to  get  lost,  and  above  all  things  not  to 
lose  our  money." 

"  And  engage  the  cheapest  and  quickest  passage  to 
San  Francisco,"  said  Randy.  "  Let  us  look  over  those 
folders  before  it  gets  too  late.  It's  too  dark  to  see 
much  outside." 

The  lamps  were  lighted  in  the  car,  and  they  lost  no 
further  time  in  digesting  the  contents  of  the  folders  of 
the  railroad  companies  and  pouring  over  the  maps  of 
the  various  routes  to  the  Golden  Gate. 

One  looks  about  as  good  as  another  on  paper," 


t 

li 


(( 


T 


A    NIGHT    IN    NKW    YUUK. 


89 


rcinarked  Kiirl,  at  last.  ''  I  tliiiik  we  had  best  tako 
the  New  York  Central  Kaih'oad  to  Chicaj^o,  then  the 
Rock  Ishind  «&  Chicago  to  lloek  IsUind,  and  then  tlie 
Soutliern  Paeilit;.  We'll  find  out  about  that  route 
when  we  reach  New  York." 

It  was  exactly  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening  that  the 
train  rolled  into  the  (iraiid  Central  Depot  at  Forty- 
second  Street  and  Kandy  and  Karl  alighted.  The 
crowd  was  very  thick,  and  though  both  looked  for 
Roland  and  Guardley,  the  two  men  could  not  be  dis- 
covered. The  coming  and  going  of  so  many  people 
confused  them,  and  the  many  (jries  which  greeted  them 
as  they  emerged  on  the  street  did  not  tend  to  set  them 
at)  ease* 

"Cab,  sir?  Coupe?  This  way  for  the  Broadway 
Central  Hotel!  Evening  papers,  Post  or  Teleijram! 
Mail  and  Express!'*'' 

Several  came  up  to  the  two  boys,  offering  them  cab 
rides  and  the  like,  but  both  Kandy  and  Earl  shook 
their  heads.  Then  Earl  remembered  that  the  ticket 
office  was  close  at  hand,  and  he  and  his  brother  went 
inside  again.  A  long  talk  with  the  ticket  clerk  fol- 
lowed, and  they  concluded  to  take  the  New  York 
Central  road  to  Chicago,  and  from  there  as  previously 
intended.  The  train  would  start  at  ten  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  Earl  bought  two  tickets,  paying  an  amount 
which  brought  their  cash  balance  down  quite  low  once 
more. 


iil 


1 

•1 

•ff 

\ 

'i 

■  1 

1  ■■ 

^'1 

iO 


TO    ALASKA    FOR   GOLD. 


"  Never  mind ;  that  pays  for  about  all  we'll  need," 
said  Randy.  "  Let  us  leave  the  t.  kets  to  be  called 
for.  and  then  they'll  be  safe." 

"  No  indeed  I  "  said  Earl.  "  Some  one  may  call  for 
them  just  as  the  mouiy  was  called  for.  I'll  carry  my 
ticket  in  an  inside  pocket,  and  you  had  best  do  the 
same." 

Tiiis  settled,  the  brothers  strolled  out  once  more.  It 
was  rather  late,  but  they  could  not  resist  the  tempta- 
tion to  a  walk  down  liroadway,  of  which  they  had 
heard  so  often.  They  trudged  as  far  as  the  Post-office, 
took  a  look  at  Park  How  and  the  numerous  newspaper 
buildings,  and  the  Brooklyn  Bridge  all  lit  up  in  a  blaze 
of  electric  lights,  and  then  Earl  happened  to  glance  at 
the  clock  on  St.  Paul's  Church. 

"  Half -past  twelve,  Bandy  I  "  he  ejaculated.  "  Gra- 
cious !  we'll  never  find  a  hotol  open  as  late  as  this ! 
Let  us  get  back  to  the  vicinity  of  the  depot  again  I  " 

"  I  guess  the  hotels  are  open  all  night  here,"  an- 
swered the  younger  brother.  "  Let  us  ride  up  lirotid- 
way  on  that  street  car."  And  they  boarded  a  cable  car, 
which  speedily  took  them  back  to  Forty-second  Street. 
A  convenient  hotel  was  found  close  to  the  railroad 
station,  and  they  lost  no  time  in  retiring.  The  constant 
rumble  and  roar  of  the  elevated  trains  disturbed  them 
not  a  little,  and  it  was  well  into  the  morning  hours 
before  both  dropped  off  into  dreamland,  not  to  awaken 
until  a  bell  boy  aroused  them  at  seven  o'clock. 


ik 


A   NIGHT    IN   NEW    YORK. 


41 


I 


After  4  hasty  breakfast  another  look  was  taken 
around  tlie  city.  Finding-  they  had  the  time,  they  took 
an  elevated  train  to  the  Battery  and  back,  staying  long 
enough  at  the  lower  end  of  the  city  to  catch  a  glimpse 
of  Castle  Garden  with  its  aquarium,  and  the  statue  of 
Liberty  out  in  the  bay. 

"One  could  spend  a  month  in  sight-seeing  here," 
sighed  Randy.  "  I  wish  we  had  had  the  time  to  do 
Boston  and  New  York  thoroughly." 

Ten  o'clock  found  them  on  the  train  which  was  to 
take  them  through  to  Chicago  without  change  of  cars. 
The  cars  were  comfortably  filled,  but  there  was  no 
crowding.  Again  they  looked  for  Roland  and  Guard- 
ley,  but  without  success. 

"I  guess  they  remained  in  New  York,"  said  Earl; 
but  for  once  the  young  fellow  was  mistaken. 

Leaving  the  vicinity  of  the  metropolis,  the  train  be- 
gan its  long  journey  up  the  beautiful  Hudson.  But  the 
journey  northward  did  not  last  long.  Soon  the  train 
branched  to  the  westward  and  plunged  into  the  hills 
and  rolling  lands  of  the  Mohawk  Valley.  City  after 
city  wciC  left  behind  with  a  whir  and  a  rush  that 
almost  took  Randy's  breath  f  "om  him.  At  noon  a  stop 
v/as  made  for  lunch,  tlien  ov  they  went  again.  Supper 
was  served  in  a  dining-car,  and  b(  th  boys  voted  it 
about  the  best  meal  they  had  ever  tasted. 

After  uhe  lamps  were  lit  it  wan  not  long  before  the 
passengers   began   to   think   of   going   to    bed.     Both 


•  I 


Mi 


»•■■■ 


HI 


42 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


Randy  and  Earl  watched  tlie  porter  closely  as  he  drew 
out  the  beds  from  the  narrow  closets  in  the  sloping  roof 
of  the  car,  set  up  tlie  little  wooden  partitions,  and  other- 
wise arranged  the  sleeping-apartments.  The  boys  had 
a  section  to  themselves  and  concluded  to  sleep  together 
in  the  lower  bertli,  so  the  upper  berth  was  left  out. 

"  A  sleeping-car  is  a  great  institution,"  said  Earl,  as 
they  turned  in.  "  Why,  a  train  like  this  is  just  a  mov- 
ing house  and  nothing  else  I  " 

Shortly  after  noon  of  the  day  following  Chicago  was 
readied.  Here  they  had  a  three  hours'  stop  and  i^pent 
the  time  in  a  ride  on  State  Street,  and  a  trip  to  the  roof 
of  the  great  Masonic  Temple,  where  a  grand  bird's-eye 
view  of  the  entire  city  was  to  be  seen,  spread  out 
far  below  them. 

And  so  the  long  trip  westward  continued.  To  tell 
of  all  the  places  stopped  at  would  be  impossible.  All 
day  long  for  nearly  a  week  they  sat  at  their  car  window 
taking  in  the  sights  of  cities,  towns,  prairies,  and  moun- 
tains. There  were  woncierful  bridges  to  cross  and 
perilous  turns  to  make,  at  which  both  held  heir  breath, 
expecting  each  moment  to  be  dashed  to  pieces^  In  the 
mountains  a  severe  storm  was  encountered,  and  the 
rolling  of  the  thunder  was  awe-inspiring,  so  long  was  it 
kept  up. 

But  all  journeys,  long  and  short,  must  come  to  an  end, 
and  one  fine  morning  the  boys  found  themselves  safe 
and  sound  in  San  Francisco,  and  on  their  way  to  the 


(i  !<^ 


A    NIGHT    IN    1  KW    YORK. 


48 


Palace  Hotel.  Tlie  trip  overland  had  brightened  them 
a  good  bit,  and  they  no  longer  looked  as  green  as  when 
they  had  started. 

They  had  juyt  stepped  from  a  Market  Street  car  in 
front  of  the  hotel  when  they  saw  a  youtli  coming  down 
the  hotel  steps  who  looked  strangely  familiar,  in  spite 
of  the  somewhat  ragged  clothing  he  wore. 

"Randy,  wlio  is  that  fellow?''  que.sticmed  Earl, 
quickly,  as  he  caiiglit  his  brother  by  tlie  elbow. 

"  Why,  if  it  isn't  Fred  Dobson  !  "  burst  from  Randy's 
lips.  "  How  in  the  world  did  he  get  away  out  here? 
Fred  Dobson  !  Fred  Dobson  !  Stop,  we  want  to  talk 
to  you !  "  he  called  out,  as  the  youth  in  question  was  on 
the  point  of  hurrying  off. 


M 


m 


n 


V 


CHAPTER  VI. 

PREPARATIONS  FOR  DEPARTURE. 

"  Randy  Portney  !  "  came  from  the  li]3s  of  the  boy 
addressed,  as  he  turned  to  stare  at  the  person  who  had 
called  out  his  name.  "  And  Earl,  too  !  Where  —  where 
did  you  come  from  ?  " 

"  From  Basco,  of  course,"  returned  Randy.  "  How 
did  you  get  away  out  here  ?  " 

"I  —  I  came  out  on  a  train  from  Chicago,"  stammered 
Fred  Dobson,  but  he  did  not  add  that  the  train  had 
been  a  freight,  and  that  the  stolen  ride  had  been  both 
uncomfortable  and  full  of  peril. 

"  We  met  your  father  in  Boston,"  put  in  Earl.  "  He 
said  if  we  should  ever  run  across  you  to  tell  you  to 
come  home." 

"  I'm  not  going  buck,"  was  the  reply  of  the  squire's 
son.     "I  came  out  here  to  make  my  fortune." 

"  I'm  afraid  you'll  find  it  rather  hard  work,"  ventured 
Randy,  and  he  glanced  at  Fred's  i^ihabby  suit.  Around 
Basco  the  youth  had  dressed  better  than  any  one  elsi. 
I've  been   playing   in   hard  lu'k  lately,"  was  che 

44 


a 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  DEPARTURE. 


45 


slangy  reply.  "  But  say,  what  are  you  two  fellows 
doing  out  here  ?  " 

"  We  came  on  to  join  our  uncle,"  said  liindy.  "  He 
is  going  to  take  us  to  Alaska  with  him." 

"  Alaska  !  To  those  new  gold  fields  a  fellow  reads 
about  in  the  daily  papers  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"I'd  like  to  go  there  myself,"  said  the  runaway,  readily. 

"  It  costs  a  good  deal  of  money  to  go,  Fred,"  remarked 
Earl.  He  rather  liked  the  squire's  son,  in  spite  of  his 
wild  ways.  "  A  fellow  must  take  along  a  year's  pro- 
visions." 

"So  I've  heard.  I  wonder  if  I  couldn't  work  my 
way  up  on  one  of  the  boats." 

"  I  wouldn't  advise  you  to  go,"  said  Rnndy.  "  Why, 
you  are  not  used  to  hard  work,  and  they  say  work  up 
there  is  of  the  hardest  kind." 

"  Oh,  I  can  work  if  I  have  to.     Where  is  your  uncle  ?  " 

"He's  stopping  at  this  hotel."  Handy  turned  tr 
Earl.  "  Let  us  see  if  Uncle  Foster  is  in,  and  we  <  .1 
talk  to  Fred  some  time  later." 

This  was  decided  upon,  and  the  squire's  son  walked 
off,  promising  to  be  back  in  a  few  hours. 

"  He  puts  on  a  pretty  good  face,  but  I  fancy  he  is 
homesick,  nevertheless,"  remarked  Earl,  as  he  and 
Randy  made  their  way  to  the  hotel  office.  They  were 
just  about  to  ask  for  their  uncle  when  a  hand  was  laid 
on  Earl's  shoulder. 


I  1 


I  i 


M    Hi 


»'  -r 


!  i  \\ 


46 


TO    ALASKA    TOR   (lOLI). 


: 


i  !■ 


! 


i 


'"  Karl  !  lljiiuly  !  How  arc  yovi,  my  boys  !  flust  us 
fresh  and  hearty  as  when  1  saw  you  hist.  And  liow 
both  of  you  are  growing  !  Why,  r^arl,  you  are  ahnost 
a  man  !  I'm  ghid  to  see  you,  yes,  I  am  !"  And  Foster 
I'ortney  beamed  at  both  from  a  pair  of  brown  eyes  set 
in  a  round,  ruddy  face,  whieh  was  lialf  covered  with  a 
k)ng  beard.  lie  was  a  hirge  and  rugged  man,  and  his 
open  manner  bad  made  liim  many  friends. 

"  What  a  beard  you've  got.  Uncle  Foster  !  "  were 
Randy's  first  words,  as  lie  winced  at  the  close  grip  Fos- 
ter Portney  gave  his  hand.  "•  You  look  like  all  tlie  rest 
of  the  Westerners  around  here  !  " 

''  I'm  glad  we  had  no  trouble  in  linding  you,"  put  in 
Earl,  whose  hand  also  tingled  from  the  grip  given  it. 
He  remembered  now  that  his  uncle  had  always  been 
considered  an  unusually  strong  man.  "1  know  he'll 
stand  the  Alaskan  climate  well  enough,  even  if  we 
don't,"  he  thought. 

"  Didn't  have  any  trouble  getting  here,  did  you  ?  " 
questioned  Foster  Portney.  "  Your  message  came  on 
time  ?  " 

"  We  had  a  little  set-back  in  Boston,"  answered  Earl, 
and  told  of  the  trouble  about  the  money.  His  uncle 
listened  with  a  sober  look  on  his  broad  face. 

''  That  was  too  bad,  truly,  lads.  But  it's  the  loss  of 
that  firm  of  bankers  and  brokers.  They  ought  to  have 
been  sure  of  the  identilication.  And  you  think  the 
thieves  were  two  men  named  Roland  and  Guardley? 
They  must  be  thorough  rascals." 


i  m 


J'KErAUATlONS    I'Oli    DErAllTUltE. 


47 


4u 


(,i 


^^ 


It 


We  arc  not  sure,"  broke  in  Randy,  hastily, 
only  looks  that  way." 

"1  see."  Foster  Portney  mused  for  a  moment. 
"  Well,  we  can't  lose  time  in  trying  to  investigate.  I 
was  hoping  you  two  boys  would  turn  up  to-day  or  to- 
morrow. Day  after  to-morrow  a  boat  sails  for  Juneau, 
and  if  1  rusUe  around  I  think  1  can  secure  passage  for 
ourselves  and  our  traps.  If  we  don't  v^atch  this  boat, 
we'll  have  to  wait  two  weeks,  or  else  take  a  train  for 
Portland  and  wait  ten  days." 

"  liut  we  haven't  a  thing,  Uncle  Foster,"  cried  Randy. 
"That  is,  outside  of  our  clothing,  which  is  in  our 
trunks,  on  check  at  the  railroad  station." 

"  And  that  clothing,  for  the  most  part,  will  have  to 
be  left  behind,  Randy.  For  a  country  like  Alaska  one 
must  be  differently  dressed  than  here.  Each  of  you 
will  have  to  have  a  suit  of  furs  and  plenty  of  flannels 
and  all  that  sort  of  thing." 

"  And  where  shall  we  get  them  ?  " 

"  There  is  a  regular  outfitting  store  not  far  from  here. 
But  the  first  thing  to  be  done,  now  you  have  turned  up, 
is  to  secure  those  passage  tickets  to  Juneau.  The  Alas- 
kan fever  is  setting  in  strong  here,  and  we'll  not  be 
alone  on  our  trip  over  Chilkoot  Pass  and  along  the 
headwaters  of  the  Yukon." 

"  I'm  in  the  dark  about  this  trip,  I  must  confess," 
said  Earl.  "  Where  is  this  pass  you  mention,  and  where 
is  the  Klondike  Creek,  or  River  ?  " 


;  i''i 


t 


48 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


!'    tl 


"I'll  show  you  the  route  to-iii^-ht,  boys,  on  a  map 
just  issued  by  our  government,  the  best  map  out  so 
far.  But  come  along  to  that  steamboat  office,  or  we'll 
get  left." 

Five  minutes  later  saw  the  boys  and  their  uncle  on 
ii  street  car  which  ran  close  to  the  dock  at  which  the 
steamboat  lay,  taking  in  her  cargo,  which  consisted 
mainly  of  the  outfits  of  miners  and  prospectors.  The 
boat,  which  was  named  the  Crolden  Hope,  had  been 
chartered  especially  for  this  trip,  and  a  temporary  ship- 
ping office  had  been  established  close  at  hand.  Around 
this  office  was  congregated  a  motley  collection  of  men, 
all  eager  to  obtain  passage  to  Juneau  as  cheaply  as  it 
could  be  had. 

Through  this  crowd  Foster  Portney  shoved  his  way, 
with  Randy  and  Earl  close  behind  him.  It  was  some 
minutes  before  they  could  get  to  the  ticket  office. 

"  I  want  three  tickets,"  said  Mr.  Portney.  "  How 
much  freight  will  you  carry  on  them?  " 

"  Six  hundred  pounds,  and  not  a  pound  more  for 
anybody,"  was  the  quick  reply. 

"  And  when  do  you  sail  ?  " 

"  Wednesday,  at  twelve  o'clock  sharp.  What  are  the 
names  ?     We  don't  want  any  mix-up  in  this  rush." 

The  names  were  put  down,  and  the  money  for  the 
passage  paid  over,  and  with  their  tickets  in  their 
pockets  the  three  struggled  to  get  out  of  the  crowd, 
which  was  growing  more  dense  every  minute.      Close 


\ 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  DEPARTURE. 


49 


at  liiind  was  a  big  bill-board  on  wliich  was  posted  a  large 
circular  headed  in  big  black  letters:  — 

THE  GOLD  FIELDS  OF  ALASKA! 

Direct  Route  via  Juneau  and  Over  Chilkoot  Pass! 
Now  is  the  Time  to  Go  and  Stake  Your  Claim  ! 

"  That  circular  is  enough  to  set  almost  any  one  crazy," 
said  Earl,  as  he  read  it  over.  ''  Well,  1  hope  we  strike 
a  bonanza." 

"  The  reports  are  very  encouraging,"  replied  Foster 
Portney,  who,  in  spite  of  his  usual  cool  headedness  had 
the  gold  fever  nearly  as  badly  as  any  one  in  San  Fran- 
cisco. "You  see,"  he  went  on,  "the  sooner  we  get 
there  the  better ;  for  we  won't  have  much  time  left 
after  arriving  before  the  long  and  terribly  cold  wiater 
sets  in." 

Earl  had  imagined  that  the  six  hundred  pounds  of 
freight  must  be  divided  between  the  three,  but  soon 
learned  that  six  hundred  pounds  was  the  limit  for  each 
person. 

"  We'll  never  carry  that  much,  will  we  ?  "  he  (jueried. 
"  Why,  how  are  we  going  to  get  all  that  stuff  over  the 
pass  you  mentioned  ?  " 

"  We'll  get  Indians  to  pack  it  over.  They'll  charge 
twenty  or  thirty  cents  a  pound,  but  it's  the  best  that 
can  be  done.  Some  hire  pack  mules  and  dog  teams, 
but  my  experience  has  been  that  Indians  are  the  most 
reliable." 


r  ^ 

I  -1 


■1. 

.A 

'    ■■! 

J 

% 
i 


M 


!■  :h 


ill 


a 


-i 


60 


TO    ALASKA    FOR   (JOLD. 


V'       '' 


Dinner  was  now  had,  and  then  the  three  proeeeded 
lo  tlie  ontlittini^  store  Foster  Portney  had  previously 
mentioned.  On  llie  way  their  unek;  asked  the  boys 
what  tliey  had  in  their  trunks,  that  nothing-  not  needed 
iiiis^lit  be  purchased. 

Two  hours  were  spent  in  buying  clothing,  and  both 
I'^arl  and  Kandy  thought  their  uncle  would  never  get 
done  adding  to  the  pile.  First  came  a  dozen  suits  of 
dannel  underwear,  and  with  them  a  dozen  pairs  of  heavy 
socks  and  half  a  dozen  of  light  ones.  Then  came  two 
suits  of  woollen  clothing,  strongly  made  and  with  large 
pockets,  two  pairs  of  strong  shoes  and  a  pair  of  arctics, 
and  two  pairs  of  walrus-hide  boots  —  heavy,  it  is  true, 
but  strong  as  iron.  Finally  came  a  suit  of  furs  and 
two  caps,  each  with  a  guard  which  could  be  pulled  down 
to  the  neck,  leaving  only  two  holes  for  the  eyes. 

"  I  reckon  you've  got  handkerchiefs  and  such  extras," 
said  Mr.  Portney.  "  So  now  all  you  want,  so  far  as 
wearing  is  concerned,  is  a  few  pairs  of  smoked  glasses, 
to  prevent  snow-blindness." 

The  general  outfitter  was  also  able  to  supply  these, 
and  he  suggested  they  take  along  about  ten  yards  of 
mosquito  netting. 

"  Mosquito  netting  !  "  cried  Randy.     "  What  for?  " 

"  During  the  short  summer  mosquitoes  are  exceed- 
ingly thick  in  Alaska,"  said  his  uncle  ;  and  made  the 
purchase  suggested. 

It  was  now  getting  late,  and  Foster  Portney  said  they 


^¥ 


•\0 


I'KEI'AUATIONS    1<<JU    DEPAKTURE. 


61 


hiid  beat  w.iit  until  tlie  following  morning  before  buy- 
ing the  eaniping-out  things,  bedding,  and  other  neeessi- 
ties.     "  rU  make  a  careful  list  to-night,"  he  added. 

They  returned  to  the  Palace  Hotel,  where  Uandy 
and  Earl  found  Fred  Dobson  awaiting  them. 

"  Say  !  "  was  the  greeting  of  the  squire's  son.  "  Is 
half  of  Basco  moving  out  to  San  Francisco?" 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  questioned  Earl,  with  a  puz- 
zled look. 

"  Why,  I  was  down  at  the  railroad  station  about  an 
hour  ago,  and  I  saw  a  train  come  in  from  Chicago  with 
Tom  Roland  and  Jasper  Guardley  on  board." 


It 


CIIAPTEll   VII. 


BUYINCJ    THE   OUTFITS. 


"  You  saw  Tom  Roland  and  Jasper  Guardley  ? " 
burst  from  tlio  lips  of  the  Portney  brothers  simultane- 
ously. 

"  Yes."  replied  Fred  Dobson.  "  I  eouldn't  believe 
my  eyes  at  first,  but  when  1  felt  sure  I  was  right  1 
ran  up  to  speak  to  Roland." 

''And  what  did  he  say?"  queried  Earl. 

"  lie  didn't  give  me  a  chance  to  speak  to  him.  He 
and  (xuardley  disappeared  in  the  erowd  like  a  flash. 
I  ratiier  think  they  saw  me  and  avoided  me." 

Earl  and  Randy  exchanged  glances.  Tom  Roland 
and  Jasper  Guardley  had  followed  them  to  San  Fran- 
cisco.    What  could  it  mean  ? 

"  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  they  are  bound  for  Alaska, 
too  !  "  burst  out  Randy.  "  Oh,  Earl,  supposing  they 
got  that  letter  —  " 

"  It's  more  than  likely  they  did,"  said  the  elder 
youth,  quickly.  I'll  wager  both  of  them  are  going  to 
try  their  fortunes  in  the  new  gold  fields.  Well,  they 
had  a  cheap  trip  West,"  he  concluded  bitterly. 

62 


JJUY1N(J    THE   OUTFITS. 


63 


*'  Tf  we  could  prove  tliey  got  lliu  money,  we  could 
have  them  lockcvl  up." 

"  Jiut  we  can't  prove  it,  llandy ;  we  iiaven't  time,  so 
we'll  just  have  to  h't  matters  stand  where  they  are. 
For  my  part  1  never  want  to  see  either  of  them  again," 
said  Earl,  decidedly. 

Fred  Dobson  liad  listened  to  the  latter  part  of  the 
conversation  with  interest,  and  now  he  wished  to  know 
what  it  all  meant. 

'•"  They  must  be  guilty,"  he  said,  after  Randy  had 
recited  the  facts.  '' (xuardley  is  a  bad  liffi!;.  You 
know  he  was  up  before  my  father  several  times,  liut 
'say.  Handy,"  he  went  on,  as  Earl  turned  away  with 
Foster  Portney  to  secure  extra  accommodations  at  the 
hotel  for  the  two  following  nights,  ''  can't  you  iix  it  up 
with  your  uncle  so  that  I  can  go  to  Alaska  with  him  / 
I'll  work  like  a  slave  for  the  chance  to  go." 

Randy  had  expected  something  of  this  sort  and  had 
talked  the  matter  over  with  Earl,  and  now  he  shook 
his  head. 

"  1  don't  believe  I  can,  Fred.  My  uncle  is  only  tak- 
ing us  along  because  we  are  related  and  because  lie 
knows  we  are  both  strong  and  used  to  hard  work.  I 
really  don't  believe  you  could  stand  it  in  the  new  gold 
fields.  He  has  warned  us  that  the  exposure  is  some- 
thing awful." 

"  Oh,  I  know,  but  I  can  stand  more  than  you  think," 
pleaded  Fred. 


I 


11 


!      'li-fl 


m 


t 


^ii 


I.  I 


54 


TO   ALASKA    FOi;    GOLD. 


hl.i 


•'  Besides  that,  it  wouldn't  be  right,"  added  Randy. 
"  You  ran  away  from  home,  and  it's  your  duty  to  go 
back." 

"  Oh,  don't  preach.  My  father  doesn't  care  where 
I  am." 

"  Yes,  he  does,  Fred ;  he  cares  a  good  deal.  And 
then  your  mother  must  be  worried,  too." 

At  the  meiition  of  his  mother,  Fred  Dobson's  face 
changed  color  for  a  moment,  and  when  next  lie 
spoke  there  seemed  to  be  a  suspicious  lump  in  his 
throat. 

"•  I  —  I'm  going  to  send  mother  a  letter ;  I'll  write 
it  to-night." 

"  You  should  have  written  long  ogo,  Fred." 

"  Oh,  don't  preach.  Then  you  won't  speak  to  your 
uncle  ? "  And  the  squire's  son  looked  into  Randy's 
face  wistfully. 

"  Yes,  I'll  speak  to  him  ;  but  it  won't  do  any  good, 
Fred." 

It  was  not  long  after  this  that  Foster  Portney  and 
Earl  came  back,  having  hired  an  extra  room  for  the 
time  desired.  The  uncle  had  been  introduced  to  Fred, 
and  now  he  invited  the  runaway  to  take  supper  with 
them. 

It  was  not  until  the  nn  d  was  nearly  over  that  Fred 
urged  Randy  to  broach  the  subject  next  his  heart. 
Foster  P(jrtncv  listened  patiently  to  all  Randy  had  to 
say  and  also  gave  ear  to   Fred's  pleadings.     But  his 


BUYING    TIJE   OUTLETS. 


55 


face  did  not  brighten  up  into  anything  like  an  encour- 
aging look. 

"No,  Dobson,  I  can't  take  you,"  was  his  reply.  "In 
the  first  place.  Earl  and  Randy  are  all  the  companions 
I  wish  to  take  along,  tliat  is,  and  grub  stake,  as  we  term 
it  in  mining  slang  —  pay  their  way,  that  means ;  and 
in  the  second  place,  it  wouldn't  be  right.  You  are  a 
minor  and  have  run  away  from  home,  and,  if  anything, 
it  is  my  duty  to  see  that  you  go  back.  IJesides  this, 
you  do  not  look  strong,  and,  I  believe,  you  have  never 
done  any  real  hard  work,  and  that  won't  do  for  Alaska. 
Only  those  who  know  how  to  rough  it  stand  any  show 
whatever  of  getting  along  there.  My  advice  to  you  is, 
to  go  back  where  you  belong." 

As  may  be  surmised,  this  plain  speech  did  not  suit 
Fred  Dobson  at  all,  and  he  felt  more  than  ill  at  ease 
for  the  remainder  of  the  repast.  As. soon  as  he  could 
do  so  gracefully  he  arose  to  go. 

*'  I  don't  suppose  I'll  st j  you  again  for  a  long  while," 
he  said,  as  he  held  out  his  hand  to  Earl  and  to  Handy. 
"  Well,  good  luck  to  you,  anyway." 

Randy  caught  Earl  by  the  arm  and  gave  it  a  little 
pinch.  "  How  are  you  off  for  ca&h,  Fred  ?  "  ho  asked, 
in  a  low  tone. 

"  Oh,  I've  got  a  little  money  with  me,"  answered 
Fred,  quietly,  but  did  not  add  that  the  sum-total  of 
his  fortune  amounted  to  exactl}/^  sixty-live  cents. 

"Perhaps  we  can  help   you  a  little,"  put  in  Earl, 


(11 


■ '  i 


II 


66 


TO   ALASKA    FOU   (JOLD. 


who  understood  the  pinch  Randy  had  given  liim. 
"We  haven  t  much,  but  if  a  few  dolhirs  will  do  any 
good  —  " 

"Will  you  let  me  have  two  dollars?"  asked  tlie 
squire's  son,  eagerly. 

"Yes." 

"  And  I'll  let  you  have  two  more,"  added  Randy, 
{\nd  the  amounts  were  passed  over  on  tlie  spot,  and 
Fred  thanked  them  very  profusely.  A  few  minutes 
later  lie  had  thanked  Foster  Portney  for  the  supper, 
bade  all  good-by,  and  was  gone. 

"  Not  a  lialf  bad  bov,"  was  the  comment  of  Mr.  Port- 
ney.  "  His  one  fault  is,  I  reckon,  that  he  has  been 
allowed  to  have  his  own  way  too  long.  Roughing  it 
out  liere  will  most  likely  make  a  man  of  him,  unless  he 
gets  into  bad  company  and  goes  to  the  dogs." 

"  I  am  going  to  write  to  his  folks  and  let  them  know 
whoi*e  he  's,"  said  Earl ;  and  the  letter  was  penned  and 
maile(^  I  jfore  he  went  to  bed.  » 

The  three  were  on  their  way  early  on  the  following 
morning  to  complete  the  purchase  of  tlieir  outfits,  for 
all  must  be  packed  up  and  on  the  steamboat  deck  l)y 
seven  o'clock  the  next  morning,  to  insure  l)eing  stored 
on  board  of  the  Golden  Hope.. 

The  first  purchases  made  were  those  of  a  good  tent, 
bedding,  woollen  blankets,  rubber  sleeping-bags,  a  large 
piece  of  oiled  canvas,  and  several  lynx-skin  robes. 

"  Now  for  our  tools  with  which  to  cut  down  trees. 


t , 


1:: 


V' 


BUYING    THE   OUTFITS. 


67 


build  boats,  and  tlie  like,"  said  Foster  Portney.  "  lie- 
niember,  we  are  almost  like  pioneers  in  a  new  land." 

For  boat-building  purposes  they  purchased  a  good 
whip-saw,  a  ei-oss-cut  saw,  a  jack  plane,  and  a  draw 
knife,  a  large  and  a  small  axe,  a  hammer,  brace  and 
bits,  six  pounds  of  assorted  nails,  several  pounds  of 
oakum  for  calking,  and  some  pitch.  To  this  outfit 
was  added  fifty  yards  of  three-quarter-inch  ropt . 

"Don't  we  want  some  canvas  for  sail?  "  asked  Randy, 
who  was  intensely  interested,  and  who  felt  somewhat  as 
if  lie  was  going  out  to  play  at  Robinson  Crusoe. 

"  No,  the  other  bits  of  canvas  will  do  for  that,"  re- 
sponded Foster  Portney.  "  Now  for  the  camping-out 
things,"  he  went  on,  and  had  soon  procured  a  good- 
sized  water  kettle,  a  frying-pan,  broiler,  bean  pot,  tin 
measure,  extra  baking  and  cooking  tins,  three  tin  })lates 
and  cups,  three  sets  of  knives  and  forks,  coffee  pot  and 
strainer,  salt  and  pepper  shakers,  and  a  strong  paper- 
fibre  water  pail. 

"  That  about  ends  that,"  he  said,  when  each  article 
bought  had  been  carefully  scrutinized  to  see  that  it  was 
[)erfect.  "Now  for  food  and  medicines,  and  then  we'll 
be  about  done." 

The  food  list  made  Randy  smile  grimly.  "  No  luxu- 
ries there,"  he  whispered  to  Earl.  "  We  are  going  to 
live  as  plain  as  we  did  up  in  Maine,  or  plainer." 

The  list  consisted  of  the  following-  A  hundred 
pounds  of  flour,  with  baking-powder,  cwenty  pounds 


i 


58 


TO    ALASKA    FOR    GOLD. 


of  smoked  ham  and  bacon,  two  dozen  cans  of  tomatoes, 
a  dozen  cans  of  other  vegetables,  a  small  sack  of  pota- 
toes, a  dozen  cans  of  condensed  milk,  twenty  pounds  of 
sugar,  ten  pounds  of  salt,  twenty  pounds  of  coffee,  a 
sack  of  beans,  pepper  and  other  spices,  and  mustard. 
To  these  were  added  a  few  cans  of  fruit  by  way  of 
delicacies. 

The  food  packed,  they  made  their  way  to  a  drug 
store  and  procured  a  small  family  chest  of  various 
medicines,  and  added  to  this  several  bottles  of  liquor, 
wliich,  however,  were  to  be  used  only  for  medicinal 
purposes,  for  none  of  the  party  were  drinkers. 

Foster  Portney  already  had  a  serviceable  pistol,  and 
he  now  procured  for  this  weapon  a  sufficient  supply  of 
cartridges.  He  also  bought  a  pistol  for  Randy  and  a 
shot-gun  for  Earl.  "The  gun  will  be  the  most  useful 
weapon,"  he  said,  "  for  it  will  help  put  lots  of  game  into 
our  eating-pot,  and  that  is  what  we  shall  want." 

"  Won't  we  want  a  fishing-line  or  two  ?  "  asked  Earl. 
"1  have  one  in  my  trunk,  but  it  is  not  of  much 
account." 

"  Yes,  we'll  buy  several  first-class  ones,  and  a  book  of 
flies.  Fish  to  a  hungry  man  are  as  acceptable  as  any 
other  game,"  answered  his  uncle,  and  the  articles  men- 
tioned were  purchased  without  delay. 

The  list  was  now  filled,  yet  Foster  Portney  spent 
nearly  an  hour  more  in  picking  up  such  odds  and  ends 
as  pins,  needles,  spools  of  thread,  three   good   pocket 


BUYING    THE    OUTFITS. 


59 


compasses,  tiiid  biinung-oflusses,  a  pocket  notebook  for 
eacli,  with  pencils  and  some  writing-paper  and  en- 
velopes. Finally  lie  took  them  to  a  little  shop  on  a 
side  street,  where  each  procured  a  monstrous  knapsack 
of  oiled  canvas,  having  straps  to  be  placed  over  the 
shoulders  and  an  extra  strap  to  come  up  over  the  front 
part  of  the  head. 

"What  an  affair !"  said  Randy,  with  a  laugh,  "I 
never  saw  a  knapsack  with  a  head-piece  before." 

"  You'll  find  it  an  easy  tiling  to  carry,"  said  his 
uncle.  "  Try  it,"  and  Kandy  did  so,  and  was  astonished 
to  learn  how  much  the  head-strap  improved  the  carry- 
ing powers. 

The  best  part  of  the  evening  was  spent  in  packing 
the  things  they  had  purchased,  and  it  was  not  until 
after  ten  o'clock  that  the  last  of  the  bundles  were 
ready  and  duly  tagged. 

"Now  we  have  only  a  few  more  things  to  get,"  said 
Foster  Portney,  "the  most  important  of  the  whole  out- 
fit ;  "  and  as  Randy  and  Earl  looked  at  him  blankly,  he 
smiled  in  an  odd  way.  "  What  could  three  gold 
hunters  do  without  picks,  shovels,  and  pans?" 

"  To  be  sure  !  "  shouted  liandy,  and  Earl  reddened 
over  the  idea  that  he  had  not  thought  of  the  things 
before. 

"  We'll  get  them  in  the  morning,  for  they  won't  have 
to  be  packed,"  said  the  uncle.  "  We  have  done  enough 
for  to-day." 


ji 


>*»M.fclt«>    I     1   ,nm/M 


60 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


And  Randy,  wlio  was  tired  out,  agreed  with  him  that 
il  hud  been  a  busy  day,  indeed.  He  went  to  bed  with 
his  head  in  a  whirl  about  A.laska  and  how  they  were  to 
get  there,  and  of  the  wonderful  finds  of  gold  whicli 
awaited  all  hands.  He  was  full  of  the  brightest  of 
hopes,  and  tlie  hardships  so  soon  to  be  encountered 
did  not  bother  him. 


M  soffi^ 


mK 


hat 

ith 

to 

icli 

oi" 

•ed 


CHAPTER   VIII. 


ON   THE   WAY  TO  JUNEAU. 


"Get  up,  Randy!  Don't  you  know  we  are  to  start 
for  Alaska  to-day  ?  "  cried  Earl,  at  six  o'clock  on  the 
following  morning.     "Come  now,  turn  out." 

"  Oh  my,  but  I'm  tired  still !  "  grumbled  Randy,  as 
he  stretched  himself.  Nevertheless,  he  hopped  out  of 
bed  a  moment  later  and  was  dressed  almost  as  soon 
as  his  brother.  They  had  barely  finished  when  their 
uncle  came  to  summon  them  to  breakfast. 

''  We'll  hunt  up  those  tools  and  then  I  have  a  little 
private  business  to  attend  to,"  announced  Foster  Port- 
ney.     "  So  we  must  move  lively." 

Breakfast,  the  last  meal  to  be  eaten  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, was  quickly  disposed  of,  and  then  followed  a 
half -hour's  inspection  of  various  picks,  shovels,  and 
gold-washing  pans  at  a  hardware  store  that  made  a 
specialty  of  miners'  tools.  The  boys  were  greatly  in- 
terested, and,  as  Earl  said,  it  made  them  feel  more  like 
prospectors  to  own  a  pick  and  a  shovel  each.  The 
final  bundle  was  made  and  shipped  to  the  steamboat 
dock,  and  Foster  Portney  left  them. 

61 


■■■>       5 


I     ! 


•i 


I 


62 


TO    ALASKA    FOU   GOLD. 


'^  Meet  me  at  the  doek  at  eleven  o'eloek,"  lie  said,  as 
he  hurried  away. 

The  boys  had  still  several  private  matters  to  be  set- 
tled. Their  trunks  were  to  be  sold,  also  some  old 
clothing.  At  the  hotel  they  obtained  the  addresses  of 
several  dealers  in  second-hand  goods,  and  they  had  one 
of  the  dealers  call  and  look  at  the  stuff.  He  offered 
ten  dollars  for  the  lot ;  and,  as  they  did  not  see  their 
way  to  doing  better,  they  accepted  his  terms,  and  the 
goods  were  removed  without  delay. 

"  Let  us  take  a  walk  around  while  we  have  the 
chance,"  said  Earl.     "It  is  only  ten  o'clock." 

Randy  was  willing,  and  off  they  started  up  Market 
Street  to  the  City  Hall,  and  then  back  and  into  Mont- 
gomery and  Kearney  streets,  taking  in  all  the  sights  as 
they  went.  Almost  before  they  knew  it,  it  was  time 
to  go  to  the  wharf. 

"  We  don't  want  to  keep  Uncle  Foster  waiting,"  said 
Earl ;  but  when  they  reached  the  wharf  their  uncle  was 
nowhere  in  sight. 

The  crowd  which  had  collected  to  see  the  gold 
seekers  off  was  a  laj-e  one,  and  more  people  kept 
coming  every  moment.  The  almost  magic  name, 
Klondike,  was  on  every  tongue,  and  there  were  hun- 
dreds who  expressed  the  wish  that  they  were  going 
along. 

"  Alaska  is  full  of  gold  !  "  one  man  declared.  "  Full 
of  gold  !    All  you've  got  to  do  is  to  locate  it." 


ON   THE    WAY    TO    JUNE  AT. 


G8 


I' 


"  Tliiit's  just  it,"  siiiil  l^^iirl  to  liis  brother.  "  If  you 
can  locate  it  you're  all  right;  if  not  — "  and  he  fin- 
ished by  a  shrug  of  his  broad  shoulders. 

"  You're  not  sorry  we're  going,  are  you  ?  "  demanded 
Randy,  quickly. 

''Sorry?  Not  a  bit  of  it.  But  it  doesn't  pay  to  be 
too  sanguine,  Randy,  my  boy." 

Quarter  of  an  hour  passed,  and  the  jam  on  the  dock 
began  to  become  uncomfortable.  Brawny  men  pre- 
dominated, but  there  were  also  many  others  there, — 
wives  to  bid  good-by  to  their  husbands,  girls  to  wish 
their  lovers  good-luck,  and  children  to  catch  a  last  em- 
brace from  their  parents.  Many  of  the  women  were 
in  tears,  and  a  number  of  other  eyes  were  moist,  and 
altogether  the  scene  was  rather  a  sober  one. 

"  What  can  be  keeping  Uncle  Foster  ? "  asked 
Randy,  as  the  minutes  to  the  time  for  sailing  slipped 
by.     "  I  don't  see  him  anywhere,  do  you  ?  " 

Earl  did  not,  and  he  was  as  anxious  as  his  brother. 
Back  and  forth  they  pushed  their  way,  but  without 
success.  Then  Earl  looked  at  the  silver  watch  lie 
carried.     "  Ten  minutes  to  twelve  !  "  he  ejaculated. 

"  Let  us  go  on  board  and  stand  where  Uncle  Foster 
can  see  us,"  suggested  Randy,  in  a  tone  of  voice  which 
was  far  from  steady.  Supposing  their  uncle  should 
not  turn  up,  what  should  they  do  ?  To  go  alone  on 
that  trip  seemed  out  of  the  question. 

Luckily  they  had  their  tickets,  so  getting  on  board 


li  *. 


M 


V. 


w 


Is 


V 


m 


64 


TO    ALASKA    KOIl    GOLD. 


was  not  (liiricult.  A  nuinbiT  of  tlie  passengers  glanced 
at  them  curiously. 

"  Goin'  ter  Alaska  ? "  asked  one  brawny  fellow 
whose  face  was  almost  entirely  concealed  by  his 
tangled  beard.  "  Well,  well !  Ain't  yer  most  afraid 
ye'll  git  done  up  ?  " 

"  We'll  try  to  kee^)  on  top,"  answered  Earl.  The 
fellow  wished  to  continue  tlie  conversation,  but  both 
Earl  and  Randy  were  too  impatient  just  then  to  listen 
to  him,  and  moved  off  to  another  [)art  of  the  boat. 

Five  minutes  more  had  passed  and  an  ol'ticer  was 
going  around  shouting  :  "  All  ashore  that's  going ! 
We  sail  in  five  minutes  I  "  Those  to  be  left  behind 
began  to  pass  over  the  gang-plank  —  it  was  a  hasty 
handshake  and  a  last  good-by  on  every  side.  The 
boys  looked  at  each  other  doubtfully. 

"  If  he  doesn't  come  — "  began  Earl,  when  his 
quick  eye  caught  sight  in  the  crowd  of  a  hat  that  he 
recognized.  "  Uncle  Foster !  Uncle  Foster  Portney  ! 
Come  on  board ! "  he  yelled,  at  the  top  of  his  sturdy 
lungs. 

Mr.  Portney,  in  the  jam  of  people  below,  heard  and 
looked  up.  In  a  moment  he  had  caught  sight  of  his 
nephews  and  he  shook  his  hand  at  them.  Soon  he  was 
mounting  the  gang-plank,  the  last  of  the  passengers 
to  come  on  board.  He  was  out  of  breath  and  gave  the 
boys  an  odd  smile. 

"  I  suppose  I  gave  you  a  scare,"  he  said.     "  I  didn't 


I'! 


ON   THE    WAV    TO   .irXEAr. 


05 


mean  to  \)e  so  late,  hut  (liost*  l)usiru'ss  nialtcrs  took 
longer  than  I  intended,  and  then  there  was  a  hhx-kacU' 
of  street  cars  and  I  had  to  walk  it.  IJut  we'ie  all 
right  now,  1  reekon,"  lie  added,  gazing  aiouiuh 
"(lood-hy  to  San  Francisco  !  When  we  see  her  again 
may  our  pockets  he  lined  with  gold!"  And  he  took 
off  his  soft  felt  hat  and  waved  it  at  the  crowd  on 
shore. 

The  boat  was  now  swinging  clear  of  the  wharf  and 
thousands  of  hats  and  handkerchiefs  were  waving. 
"  There  she  goes  !  "  "  Hurrah  for  Alaska  !  "  "  If  you 
strike  it  rich,  let  us  know  I  "  "  (xod  he  with  you  !  " 
These  and  a  hundred  other  cries  rang  out,  and  they 
were  kept  up  until  the  steamer  was  far  out  in  the 
stream  and  on  her  way  up  the  bay  to  the  (i olden 
Gate. 

The  run  to  the  Gate  did  not  take  long,  and  by  the 
middle  of  the  afternoon  tlie  steamer  was  standing  out 
boldly  into  the  Pacific  Ocean,  on  her  way  almost  due 
north.  It  had  been  rather  muggy,  and  now  a  heavy 
mist  set  in,  and  by  evening  the  boys  were  glad  enough 
to  leave  the  deck  and  arrange  their  stateroom.  It 
contained  four  berths,  two  for  tiiemselves,  one  for  Mr. 
Portney,  and  the  last  for  a  stranger  who  was  down  on 
the  ship's  list  as  Captain  Luke  Zoss. 

"  I  wonder  who  Captain  Zoss  can  be  ?  "  said  Randy 
to  Earl,  when  the  door  of  the  stateroom  was  suddenly 
flung  open,  and  the  bushy-bearded  man  who  had  spoken 


i'ii 


II 


V    I 


'^l''^ 


66 


TO    ALASKA    l-'Oll    (JOLI). 


to  tliL'in  oil  (lt!ck  ciiino  in.  He  stared  at  them  in  sur- 
prise for  H  second,  then  burst  into  a  iiearty  lit  of 
laughter. 

'•  Wall !  wall  !  So  it's  you  as  are  j^'-oin'  ter  be  my 
messmates  on  this  yere  trip !  "  he  exelaimed.  "  All 
right,  lads,  glad  ter  have  ye."  lie  held  out  a  brawny 
hand.  "  My  handle  is  Luke  Zoss,  but  most  of  the 
boys  know  me  as  Cap'n  Luke.  May  1  be  so  inquisi- 
tive as  to  ask  your  names  ?  " 

"  My  name  is  Earl  Portney,  and  this  is  my  brother 
Randy,"  answered  Earl.  The  hearty  way  of  the 
stranger  pleased  him,  and  he  was  sure  he  should  like 
Zoss. 

"  Portney,  eh  ?  I  used  ter  know  a  man  by  thet 
name  —  Foster  Portney,  o'  Colorady." 

"  Why,  he's  our  uncle,  and  he  is  with  us !  "  cried 
Randy,  and  just  then  his  uncle  came  in,  and  he  and 
Captain  Zoss  shook  hands.  They  had  met  in  Creede, 
where  Zoss  had  once  been  a  mining  superintendent, 
and  knew  each  other  quite  well. 

"  All  bound  fer  the  Klondike  I  "  exclaimed  the  cap- 
tain. "  Hooray  !  We're  sure  to  strike  it,  eh,  Port- 
ney ?  I  know  you  wouldn't  be  a-goin'  thar  unless  gold 
was  to  be  picked  up.  Goin'  over  Chilkoot  Pass,  I  take 
it."  Foster  Portney  nodded.  "Then  we  might  as 
well  stick  together,  eh?  It  will  be  better  than  pair- 
ing off  with  somebody  as  might  be  wuss  nor  a  hoss 
thief,  eh  ?     O'  course  it  would !  " 


■ 


f)N    THI<:    WAY   TO   JUNEAU. 


07 


Again  tliu  ciii)tiiiji  sliook  luinds.  'riieii  ho  asked  the 
boys  wliuru  thuy  caiiu;  from  and  was  pleased  to  learn 
they  were  usetl  to  a  life  in  thi  open  air. 

"I  was  a  lunihernian  myself  onct — np  in  Michigan," 
he  said.  "  Ikit  thar  wasn't  enough  excitement,  so  1 
gave  it  up  to  seek  gold  and  silver.  Minin'  and  i)ros- 
pectin'  just  suit  me  —  leas'wise  so  long  as  the  grub 
holds  out.  One  thing  is  in  our  favor  —  scarcity  o' 
men  up  in  them  new  gold  liclds.  Now,  down  in 
Colorady  it's  different — all  overrun  with  men,  eh, 
Portney?" 

"  Yes,  we'll  have  rather  an  open  field,"  answered 
Foster  Portney.  And  then  followed  a  long  discussion 
about  the  new  gold  fields  and  what  might  be  expected 
when  Dyea  was  reached  and  the  terrible  clind)  over 
the  mountains  began.  The  discussion  lasted  ujitil 
ten  o'clock,  and  the  boys  listened  with  interest  and 
picked  up  many  stray  bits  of  information.  Both 
concluded  that  the  overland  trip  to  the  mines  would 
prove  every  bit  as  rough  and  dangerous  as  they  had 
pictured  it. 

The  distance  from  San  Francisco  to  Juneau,  Alaska, 
is,  in  round  figures,  one  thousand  miles.  The  Golden 
Hope  was  not  as  large  as  a  regular  ocean  liner,  yet  she 
was  a  fast  boat,  and  it  was  expected  that  she  would 
cover  the  distance  inside  of  four  days.  Much,  of 
course,  would  depend  upon  the  weather  encountered, 
for  she  was  heavily  loaded  with  both  passengers  and 


1^:^ 


68 


TO    ALASKA    FOR    CH)LD. 


frinelit.  Tlio  fn'itilit  Inid  <jfivoii  oven  tlie  owners  oon- 
cern,  for  inucli  ot"  it  was  [)ile(l  lii<j;'h  on  the  outer  (le(^ks. 

On  tlu^  second  day  out,  and  some  time  aiter  Cape 
hlantM)  had  hccn  sij^^hted  through  the  ghiss,  the  sky  to 
tiie  westward  hei>'an  to  darkcm,  and  the  sidhjrs  announced 
an  approacliiiiLC  storm.  Soon  the  sun  went  undcu*  a 
heavy  bank  of  ch)uds  and  ;i  stiff  hree/e  sprniij^' up  which 
threw  tlu!  h)nL!,  lieavv  swells  of  the  ocean  into  millions 
of  white-caps,  dancing  and  skipping  on  every  side  as 
far  as  eyt;  could  reach. 

"  We  are  in  for  it  now,"  v/as  the  announcement 
whicli  went  the  rounds.  Presently  it  began  to  rain, 
and  all  endeavored  to  seek  the  shelter  of  the  cabin, 
whicli  speedily  became  crowded  to  suffocation.  The 
boys,  their  uncle,  and  Captain  Zoss  were  in  the  forward 
part  (jf  the  bo, it,  and  they  saw  the  course  changed,  so 
tlint  the  Goldea  Hope  stood  out  straight  to  meet  the 
blow. 

"  We  are  going  to  have  no  fun  of  this,"  said  Foster 
Portney,  with  a  grave  shake  of  his  head.  "  If  I  know 
anything  about  matters,  that  storm  will  be  an  extra, 
heavy  one."  And  the  events  of  the  next  hour  proved 
tliat  he  was  right. 


RHi 


ll 


(;HAi'ri-:i{  IX, 


THE    1  ATIO   OF    A    STOWAWAY. 


"My  <^riieiovis  !      Wtrrc  ^oiiin"  to  tlie  bottom  sure  I  " 

It  was  Raiidy  wlio  made  tlie  ol)servatioii.  'V\\v  st(fnn 
had  struck  the  steamer  in  all  its  fury,  and  the  [)it('hin_L,' 
of  the  vessel  made  it  almost  impossible  for  a  person  to 
keep  his  ieet.  Itandy  eluteiied  a  liiindrail  fastened 
near  by,  and  Earl  did  the  same  ;  while  Mr.  I'ortney 
and  Captain  Zoss  braced  up  against  a  eeiling  post. 
The  only  thin<^  that  kept  many  from  falling-  was  the 
fact  that  there  was  no  vacant  llooi-  s[)ace.  "They  were 
in  it  like  sardines  in  a  tin,"  as  Itandy  ex[)ressed  it. 

"  Some  of  the  outside  freight  is  b.)und  to  go,"  re- 
marked Foster  Portney,  a  minute  later.  "Ah,  as  I 
thought  —  the  ca])tain  has  oi-dered  it  cut  away.  There 
goes  some  [)oor  fellows'  c  tfits  I     Too  bad  !  " 

"  I  hope  our  stufT  isn't  among  it  !  "  cried  Earl. 
"  But  they'll  be  responsil)le,  won't  they?  " 

"  Yes,  they'll  be  res[)()nsible,  Earl,  liut  we  don't 
want  their  money  —  we  want  our  goods,  for  it  may  be 
difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  duplicate  the  things  at 
Juneau.     But  I  imagine  our  goods  are  in  the  hold." 

CO 


•i 


\.Q 


70 


TO   ALASKA    VOll    COM). 


I. 


"  Our  clothiuf^  and  provisions  are,"  said  Randy.  "•  I 
saw  them  put  down  just  before  we  started.  But  the 
tools  may  be  out  there." 

"  If  tliey  —  "  began  Captain  Zoss,  but  broke  off  short 
as  a  mighty  crasli  was  heard  from  tiie  rear  dcek.  The 
erasli  was  foHowed  by  tlie  jingle  of  broken  glass  and 
sharp  cries  of  pain  and  alarm. 

Tiiere  was  every  evidence  of  a  panic,  but  the  cooler 
heads  restored  order,  and  then  it  was  found  that  a 
miner's  outfit  had  caused  all  the  trouble.  It  had 
been  looscmed  from  the  deck,  but  before  it  could  be 
thrown  overboard  a  lurch  of  the  steamer  had  sent  it 
sailiiux  through  the  air  straight  through  a  cabin  v.in- 
dow.  Tlie  miner  to  whom  the  outfit  belonged  had  b'*i'ri 
one  of  those  to  be  most  scared  by  its  unceremonious 
entrance. 

For  three  hours  the  storm  raged  in  all  its  fury,  and 
during  that  time  no  one  but  the  ol'licers  and  crew  were 
allowed  on  deck.  Nearly  all  the  outside  freight  uas 
thrown  away,  a  loss  which  amounted  to  several  thou- 
sand dollars.  At  last  the  wind  and  the  rain  grad- 
ually abated,  and  by  nightfall  the  Grolden  Hope  was 
again  proceeding  on  her  journey  northward. 

On  the  following  day  they  ran  by  Vancouver  Island, 
and  it  was  calculated  tliat  they  would  reach  Juneau  by 
noon  of  the  day  following.  All  were  anxious  concern- 
ing the  outfits  which  had  l)een  lost  overboard,  and  tlie 
miners  and  ofiScers  tried  to  make  out  a  list  of  them. 


liii 

m 


THE    KATE    OF    A   STOWAWAY. 


le 
1. 


The  work  proceeded  all  day,  and  it  was  not  until  nii^lit- 
fall  that  it  was  learned  positively  t.hat  the  j^oods  belong- 
ing to  the  Portneys  and  to  Captain  Zoss  were  safe. 

The  tirst  sight  of  Juneau  was  rather  disa[)pointing  to 
the  boys,  who  had  expected  to  see  a  niucli  larger  [)hice. 
.luneau  is  but  a  small  town,  lying  on  the  western  coast 
of  a  peninsula  formed  by  tiie  Lynn  Canal  and  the 
wide  mouth  of  the  Tiiivu  Iliviu*.  Directly  o})posit(!  is 
Douglas  Island.  Tlie  town  lies  f)n  a  small  patch  of  Hat 
ground,  l)ackcd  Uj)  by  several  liigli  mountains.  It  is 
principally  a  trading  centre.  The  harbor  is  a  fairly 
good  one,  and,  on  account  of  the  rusii  to  the  gold  iields, 
the  stores  were  increasing  constantly. 

As  soon  as  the  steamer  reached  lier  landing  place  a 
wild  rush  for  sliore  ensued,  and  then  began  a  hunt  for 
some  vessel  which  miglit  take  the  party  up  to  Dyea, 
where  the  journey  by  water  would,  for  the  present, 
come  to  an  end.  The  water  up  the  Lynn  Canal,  as  it 
is  termed,  although  it  is  not  at  all  a  canal  as  we  know 
them,  and  through  Dyea  Inlet,  is  sliallow,  and,  conse- 
quently, ocean  steamers  do  not  go  beyond  Junt^au. 

^  I'll  hunt  up  passage  on  some  boat,"  said  Foster 
Poi'tney  to  the  boys.  "•  You  remain  here  and  watch 
our  goods.  Those  fellows  who  lost  their  outfits  are 
angry  enough,  and  some  of  them  would  like  notliing 
better  than  to  appropriate  ours  and  let  us  look  to  the 
steamboat  company  for  redress." 

While  he  was  gone,  the  task  of  bringing  the  goods 


7n 


I  i, 


72 


TO    ALASKA    Foil    (lOLD. 


from  tlie  steamer's  hold  was  stiirted,  for  no  (mm;  waiili'd 
to  be  delayed  in  Jmieaii  any  loii^'er  than  was  necessary, 
liandy  and  Karl  watched  tli(3  work  closely,  and  as  soon 
as  their  thini^s  apiJcarcd  they  claimed  them  and  liad 
tiie  lot  transferred  to  a  s[)ot  at  the  end  of  the  ratiicr 
rotten  and  shaky  dock. 

Presently,  as  they  stood  waitini*'  for  the  reappearance 
of  their  uncle  and  ("aptain  Zoss,  who  had  gone  with 
Mr.  I'ortney,  they  noticed  a  commotion  on  board  the 
Golilcn  Hope.  A  stowaway  had  been  fonnd  in  the  hold 
of  the  vessel,  and  the  sailors  and  stevedores  had  brought 
the  fellow  out  more  dead  than  alive. 

"(let  off  of  her(!  I  "  cried  the  captain  of  the  steamer, 
in  a  rage,  as  he  bootiMl  ihe  fellow  not  once,  bnt  half  a 
do/en  times,  "(iet  out,  I  say!  If  W(;  were  down  in 
San  I'^ranciseo  I'd  have  you  locked  uj)  in  a  minute.  It's 
a  pity  I  didn't  hnd  you  out  when  we  were  on  tlu^  trip  — 
I'd  a-made  you  work  your  passage,  and  more  !  (jo,  be- 
fore I  heave  you  overboard!" 

And  with  a  iinal  kick  the  stowaway  Avas  run  oif  the 
gang-plank,  to  fall  in  a  heap  on  the  dock,  too  weak  from 
the  conlinenuuit  and  want  of  i)roj)er  food  to  stand. 

"  It's  Fred  Dobson  !  "  ejaculated  Handy.     "  Oh,  Earl, 

look  . 

"Il  is  {''red,  true  enough!"  rej)lie(l  Karl,  as  much 
surjjrised  as  his  brother.  I^'orgetful  of  their  outfits  for 
the  time  being,  both  ran  forward  and  picked  up  the  son 
of  the  scjuire  of  Bj'.sco.     Fred's  eyes  were  closed,  his 


Lor 


?011 

lliis 


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a1 


THIO    FATK    OF    A    STOWAWAY. 


73 


face  was  as  white  as  chalk,  and  they  saw  at  a  glance 
that  he  had  fainted. 

"  Get  some  water,  Handy,"  said  Earl,  as  he  began  to 
work  over  the  prostrate  tigure.  "  I  wonder  if  there  is 
a  doctor  handy.  He  looks  as  if  he  was  half  starved 
to  death." 

As  Randy  ran  off,  a  crowd  hegan  to  collect,  a  few  to 
sympathize,  bnt  the  majority  to  look  on  merely  in  cnri- 
osity  or  to  make  andil)le  counnents  that  it  served  the 
boy  right,  since  he  had  no  business  to  steal  a  trip. 

"Got  a  crazy  notion  to  go  to  the  gold  fields,  I 
reckon,"  said  one  bystander.  "-He  ought  to  be  home 
where  liis  mannna  could  spank  1  *..u." 

At  this  there  was  a  coarse  laugh,  which  was  quickly 
hushed  when  another  man,  a  young  fellow  of  not  more 
than  twenty-three,  stepped  forward,  and  announced 
that  he  was  a  doctor.  He  soon  succeeded  in  bringing 
Fred  around. 

"  He  wants  something  to  eat  as  much  as  anything," 
said  the  newcomer.  "•  There  is  a  restaurant  over 
yonder.  Better  take  ium  there  and  get  him  some 
soup  and  stale  bread  —  his  stomach  isn't  strong  enough 
to  bear  a  regular  meal." 

Randy  and  Earl  thanked  the  doctor  and  did  as  ad- 
vised, while  the  crowd  gradually  melted  away  to  tend 
to  its  own  affairs.  Fred  was  ravenously  hungry,  yet  he 
ate  with  diihcuUv  when  the  food  was  set  before  him. 

"  I've  had  nothing  to  eat  for  about  forty  hours,"  he 


II 


K-. 


V 


T4 


TO   ALASKA    FOR    (iOLD. 


f 


said,  when  he  felt  strong  enougli  to  talk.  "  I  spent 
that  four  dollars  you  two  gave  me  in  buying  pro- 
visions, crackers,  cheese,  and  the  like,  but  on  the  second 
day  out  the  rats  got  at  the  crackers  and  cheese  and  ate 
nearly  the  whole  of  them.  Then  one  of  my  bottles  of 
water  was  smaslied  during  that  storm,  and  though  it 
was  as  close  as  pepper  down  there  I  hadn't  a  mouth- 
ful to  drink.  I  thought  I  was  going  to  die  just  before 
they  opened  the  hold  and  began  to  remove  the  cargo." 

"  But,  Fred,  what  made  you  do  it  ? "  asked  Earl, 
reproachfully.     "It  was  the  height  of  foolishness." 

"  I'm  bound  to  go  to  the  gold  fields.  Earl.  You  two 
are  going  there  to  make  a  fortune,  and  why  can't  I 
make  a  fortune,  too  ?  " 

"  Because  you  are  not  fit  for  life  out  there,  that's 
why.  You  suffered  a  good  deal  in  coming  this  far, 
but  let  me  tell  you  that  I  expect  to  suffer  a  good 
deal  more  than  that  before  the  Klondike  River  is 
reached  and  we  liave  endured  the  hardships  of  an 
Alaskan  winter.  Supposing  you  succeed  in  getting 
away  up  in  Alaska  and  are  taken  sick,  who  is  going 
to  care  for  you,  and  liow  are  you  going  to  get  back 
home?  Now  I  don't  want  to  preach,  but  my  advice 
is,  to  go  back  to  Basco  at  once." 

"  And  that's  my  advice,  too,  Fred,"  broke  in  Randy. 
"I  know  you  are  as  old  as  I  am,  but  you  know  you 
never  did  such  work  as  Earl  and  J  are  used  to,  and 
some  of  the  experienced  minel'S  bVeil  httigli  at  us.     If 


iiti. 


i 


THE   FATE   OF   A   STOWAWAY. 


76 


Uncle  Foster  liadu't  known  that  we  were  used  to  hard 
work  out  in  tlie  open,  in  midwinter  at  that,  lie  would 
never  have  dreamed  of  asking  us  to  go  with  him  ;  he 
told  us  so." 

Randy  and  Earl  both  spoke  earnestly,  and  it  was  not 
their  fault  that  what  tliey  had  to  say  did  not  take  effect. 
But  Fred  Dobson  was  both  wild  and  reckless,  and  he 
shook  his  head. 

"  I'm  bound  to  go  if  I  have  to  walk  the  rest  of  the 
way,"  he  said.  "  1  thought  I  would  strike  your  uncle 
again  when  we  reached  the  place,  but  if  you  are  so  dead 
set  against  me  Fll  not  say  another  word,  but  try  to 
paddle  my  own  canoe,  as  the  saying  is.  Of  course  Fm 
nnich  obliged  for  what  you  did  for  me  in  San  Francisco 
and  here,  and  some  day  Fll  make  it  up  to  you,  see  if  I 
don't." 

"  We  don't  want  you  to  make  it  up,  Fred ;  ordy  act 
sensible  and  steer  for  home  when  you  next  strike  out" 
said  Earl.  He  was  about  to  go  on,  when  the  entrance 
of  his  uncle  and  Cai)tain  Zoss  into  the  restaurant  caused 
him  to  stop. 

"  Humph  !  so  you've  turned  up  again  !  "  were  Foster 
Fortney's  words.  "  I  heard  there  had  been  a  stowaway 
on  board  of  the  Q-olden  Hope.  It  was  the  most  foolish 
move  you  could  make,  lad."  The  prospector  turned  to 
his  youngest  nephew.    "  Handy,  wliere  are  our  outfits  ?  " 

"  Oh  my  !  "  burst  out  Randy,  leaping  to  his  feet. 
"  Earl,  we  forgot  all  about  them  !  " 


W 


m 


T6 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


Earl  said  nothing,  but  he  reached  the  door  of  the  res- 
taurjint  ahnost  as  quickly  as  his  brother.  There  was  a 
crowd  in  the  roadway  outside,  but  they  cjuickly  forced 
a  passage  through,  and  ran  for  the  steamer  dock.  A 
large  number  of  outfits  were  spread  here,  there,  and 
everywhere,  but  the  spot  where  they  had  left  those 
belonging  to  their  own  party  was  vacant. 


CHAPTER  X. 


TIP   THE   LYNN   CANAL. 


Randy  and  Earl  gazed  about  them  in  liopeless  bewil- 
derment. The  outfits  belonging  to  themselves,  their 
uncle,  and  to  Captain  Zoss  were  gone.  Wlio  had  taken 
them,  and  was  there  any  chance  of  recovery  ? 

"We  should  have  looked  after  them,"  said  Earl,  bit- 
terly. "  It  was  foolishness  to  leave  the  stuff,  especially 
after  Uncle  Foster  had  warned  uj." 

"  I  wonder  if  any  of  those  miners  who  lost  their  out- 
fits from  the  steamer  are  guilty,"  said  Randy,  as  they 
started  on  another  tour  of  the  Juneau  wharf.  ''  I  re- 
member one  fellow  with  a  red  beard  and  a  scar  on  his 
nose  who  looked  at  the  stuff  rather  closely  when  we 
came  ashore." 

"  Let  us  start  to  make  inquiries.  Randy.  We  must 
get  our  outfits  back.  If  we  don't,  Uncle  Foster  will 
never  forgive  us." 

"  Yes,  and  we'll  be  in  a  pickle  besides,"  groaned  the 
younger  brother.  "  By  the  look  of  things  in  this  set- 
tlement mining  outfits  are  rather  scarce." 

"  Yes,  I  heard  one  man  saying  that  about  everything 
worth  having  had  been  gobbled  up  several  weeks  ago 

77 


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78 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


!i^^ 


and  the  storekeepers  were  awaiting  new  consignments 
from  San  Francisco,  Portland,  and  Seattle." 

With  anxious  hearts  they  walked  around  the  wharf 
and  along  a  side  road,  also  piled  high  with  miners' 
goods  and  steamer  freight.  Presently  a  man  joined 
them.     It  was  Captain  Zoss. 

"Well,  whar's  our  packs?"  he  questioned,  and 
looked  glum  when  told  of  what  had  occurred.  "  By 
the  boots,  lads,  we  must  find  'em  —  ain't  no  two  ways 
about  that  !  Why,  to  go  to  the  mines  without  tools 
would  be  wuss  nor  a  hen  sittin'  on  a  nest  without  eggs. 
Been  all  over  the  dock,  yer  say  ?  "  He  paused  an  in- 
stant. "  I'll  make  a  round  o'  the  saloons.  If  the  things 
was  stolen,  like  as  not  the  thieves  would  want  to  git  'em 
out  of  sight  in  quick  order,  eh  ?  " 

lie  was  about  to  leave  them,  when  they  were  hailed 
by  a  man  standing  near  the  entrance  to  a  new  store 
that  was  going  up  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  way.  It 
was  the  doctor  who  had  so  kindly  come  to  Fred  Dob- 
son's  assistance. 

"  What's  up  ?  "  he  called  out.  "  Looking  for  your 
traps  ?  They're  jdl  right.  I  had  them  brought  up 
here  for  safe  keeping  when  you  went  off  with  the  sick 
lad.  I  knew  they  wouldn't  be  secure  down  on  the 
wharf.  There  are  half  a  dozen  quarrels  on  down  there 
over  lost  and  mixed-up  baggage." 

Randy  and  Earl  felt  much  relieved,  and  so  did  the 
captain.     They  ran  over  to  the  new   store,  and  sure 


'I ' 
Mil 


UP   THE   LYNN   CANAL. 


79 


enough,  everything  was  there  in  a  heap,  alongside  of 
the  packs  owned  by  the  doctor.  They  thanked  the 
medical  man  for  his  kindness,  and  a  short  talk  fol- 
lowed. The  doctor's  name  was  Kenneth  Barwaithe, 
and  he  was  an  Englishman  who  had  practised  for  a 
year  in  Victoria.  He,  too,  was  bound  for  the  new 
gold  fields,  either  for  mining  purposes,  or  to  set  him- 
self up  in  business. 

"  The  hundreds  oi  miners  going  up  there  will  need 
doctoring,"  he  explained.  "  And  I  am  all  prepared  to 
dose  them  with  medicine,  set  a  broken  leg,  amputate 
an  arm,  or  pull  an  aching  tooth." 

"  Thar'll  be  work  for  you,"  said  Captain  Zoss,  with 
a  laugh.  "  But  the  wust  disease  up  thar  will  be  one 
ye  can't  touch  nohow." 

"  Indeed  !  And  what  is  that?"  questioned  Kenneth 
Barwaithe,  with  interest. 

"  Starvation,"  was  the  solemn  reply. 

In  order  to  relieve  their  uncle  of  further  anxiety. 
Randy  and  Earl  returned  to  where  they  had  left  Mr. 
I'ortney.  Tliey  found  him  in  earnest  conversation 
with  Fred  Dobson.  The  face  of  the  squire's  son  was 
very  red  and  his  eyes  were  downcast. 

"  I'll  write  home  at  once,"  they  heard  Fred  say,  in  a 
low  voice.  "  I'm  glad  Earl  wrote  from  San  Francisco. 
My  folks  will  at  least  know  I  am  alive  and  well  —  that 
is,  as  well  as  a  fellow  can  be  who  was  half  starved  to 
death,"  he  added  ruefully. 


I 


y 


80 


TO  ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


"  And  you  ought  to  go  home,  lad  —  it's  the  proper 
place  for  you/' 

"  Well,  maybe  I  will  —  after  I  have  earned  enough 
around  here  to  take  me,  Mr.  Portney." 

Foster  Portney's  hand  was  in  his  pocket,  and  Earl 
and  Randy  saw  him  hand  Fred  a  ten-dollar  bill.  "Pay 
me  back  whenever  you  feel  rich  enough  to  do  so,"  he 
said,  and  the  squire's  son  gave  him  a  ready  promise  to 
that  effect. 

Foster  Portney  and  Captain  Zoss  had  been  fortunate 
enough  to  secure  passage  up  to  Dyea,  on  a  little  steam- 
boat, which  was  to  leave  early  the  next  day.  The 
craft  was  a  freight  boat,  but  carried  passengers  when- 
ever she  could  get  them.  No  time  was  lost  in  transfer- 
ring their  goods  to  this  craft,  Fred  Dobson  helping 
them  carry  their  loads.  Doctor  Barwaithe  had  also 
secured  passage  in  the  craft,  and  soon  Ijecame  one  of 
the  party.  Later  on,  matters  were  talked  over  by  him 
and  the  others,  and  it  was  agreed  that  the  five  should 
stick  together  until  the  Klondike  region  was  reached. 
The  forming  of  little  parties  of  five  or  more  was  popular 
among  those  who  travelled  by  the  overland  route  into 
Alaska.  By  such  means  there  was  less  danger  of  a  man 
getting  lost  in  the  mountains,  and  the  preparation  of 
meals  along  the  way  was  easier,  for  each  man  of  a  party 
took  his  turn  at  feeding  the  rest,  so  that  only  one  set 
of  packs  had  to  be  unstrapped  and  packed  again,  in- 
stead of  the  lot.     Besides  this,  the  building  and  sailing 


f 


J 


UP  THE    LYNN   CANAL. 


81 


f 


I 


of  a  boat  down  the  lakes  and  through  the  rapids  by  jne 
man  was  next  to  imi»ossibk\ 

It  was  very  ditlicult  to  obtain  accorninodations  at  any 
of  the  so-styled  hotels  in  Juneau,  so  all  hands  en- 
camped for  the  night  on  the  deck  of  the  freighter,  Fred 
Dobson  managing  to  smuggle  himself  in  with  the 
regular  party.  In  the  morning  Fred  approached  the 
captain  of  the  boat  for  a  situation,  Init  was  turned  oft'  in 
language  far  from  fit  to  transcribe  to  these  pages. 

"  Got  more  on  board  than  we  want  now,  boy,  so  git 
ashore  in  a  hurry,  for  we're  on  the  point  of  sailing," 
and  with  a  wistful  good-by  to  Randy,  Earl,  and  the 
others,  the  squire's  son  leaped  to  the  dock.  Five 
minutes  later  the  lines  were  cast  off,  and  the  wheezy, 
overloaded  craft  started  northward  on  the  Lynn 
Canal. 

The  distance  from  Juneau  to  Dyea  is  a  hundred  and 
eighteen  miles,  past  Hernev's  Bay  and  Katsehan  River 
into  Chilkoot  Iidet  and  finally  uj)  Dyea  Iidet.  The 
run  for  the  most  part  is  past  gigantic  glaciers  on  one 
side  and  mountains  covered  with  snow  and  ice  on  the 
other. 

"  Gracious,  this  is  a  touch  of  winter  and  no  mis- 
take I  "  ejaculated  Randy,  as  the  steamboat  ploughed 
steadily  on  her  way,  and  they  stood  by  tlie  rail  taking 
in  the  desolate  sight.  "  See  how  those  little  icebergs 
sparklo  in  the  sunshine." 

"  Far  off  to  the  west  of  this  canal  is  the  great  Muir 

9 


f 


Jl 


82 


TO    ALASKA    FOR    GOLD. 


li  tj 


I 
i: 


Glacier,"  ^aid  Foster  Portiiey.  "  It  is  the  largest 
glacier  in  the  world.  That  island  which  we  just  passed 
is  Douglas,  and  there  is  situated  the  great  Treadwell 
Mine,  one  of  the  richest  gold  mines  heretofore  discov- 
ered in  Alaska." 

"  Have  we  got  to  climb  mountains  like  that  ? " 
questioned  Earl,  as  he  jjointed  to  the  snow-capped 
summits  to  the  eastward. 

"  Have  we  got  to  climb  'em?  "  burst  in  Captain  Zoss. 
"  Why,  them  ain't  an  ant  hill  to  the  ones  we're  to  crawl 
over,  lad.  Just  wait  till  we  get  up  into  Dyea  Inlet, 
and  you'll  catch  sight  o'  mountains  as  will  give  you 
the  yellow  shakes,  as  the  boys  call  it.  Now  I  don't 
want  to  discourage  ye,"  he  went  on,  as  he  saw  Earl 
take  a  deep  breatli.  "  I  want  to  prepare  ye  for  the 
wust,  that's  all.  That  pass  — the  Chilkoot  —  is  the 
wust  part  o'  the  whole  trip,  being  about  three-quarters 
of  a  mile  liigli  and  betwixt  mountains  twice  that  size." 

"  Well,  we  can  climb  three-quarters  of  a  mile,  I 
guess,  if  the  grade  isn't  too  steep,"  said  Randy. 

The  captain  turned  away  and  smiled  to  himself.  He 
was  more  than  doubtful  if  the  boys  would  ever  get 
safely  over  to  Lake  Linderman,  the  first  of  the  lakes  on 
tlie  other  side  of  the  mountain  range. 

It  was  well  that  they  had  dressed  themselves  warmly; 
for,  on  account  of  the  sun  shining  on  the  glacier«i  the  air 
was  filled  v/ith  a  mist  which  chilled  them  to  the  bone. 
The  channel  was  lilled  with  loose  pieces  of  ice,  and  ever 


UP   THE  LYNN   CANAL. 


83 


.. 


and  anon  the  steamer  would  strike  a  miniature  iceberg 
with  a  crash  whicli  was  clearly  heard  by  all  on  board. 

After  a  few  hours  of  gazing  at  the  monotonous  pres- 
entation of  glaciers  and  snow-covered  hills  and  moun- 
tains, the  boys  turned  their  attention  to  those  on  board. 
It  was  a  motley  collection  of  people.  Most  of  the  men 
were  Americans,  but  there  was  also  a  fair  sprinkling  of 
Canadians,  Germans,  and  half  a  dozen  Indians.  The 
latter  were  of  the  Chilkoot  tribe,  and  interested  Randy 
more  than  anything  else.  They  were  a  round-faced, 
stalwart  set  of  fellows,  and  several  of  them  had  bands 
of  black  painted  across  the  upper  parts  of  their  faces. 

"They  paint  the  black  around  their  eyes  as  a  pre- 
ventive of  snow-blindness,"  explained  Foster  Portney. 
"  As  soon  as  either  of  you  find  your  eyes  hurting  from 
the  glare  you  had  better  put  on  a  pair  of  the  smoked 
goggles." 

Dinner  on  the  steamer  was  served  under  the  rather 
scanty  shelter  on  the  upper  deck.  But  fifteen  could  be 
accommodated  at  once,  and  as  there  were  over  sixty 
people  on  board,  it  look  some  time  to  satisfy  them  all. 
The  fare  was  principally  beef  stew,  bread,  coffee,  and 
rice  pudding,  but  the  cold  air  gave  every  one  a  good 
appetite,  and  the  boys  did  full  justice  to  all  that  was 
offered  them. 

At  turning-in  time  there  was  more  than  one  little 
row,  for  sleeping  accommodations  were  limited. 
Berths  were  at  a  premium,  and  had  been  secured  by 


1,    .  !' 

«  ^♦^ 


84 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


the  more  fortunate  ones  when  the  steamer  had  hinded 
at  Juneau.  Foster  Portney  gathered  his  party  around 
him  in  the  shelter  of  the  wheelliouse,  on  deck,  and  here 
they  slept  huddled  together  like  sheep  in  a  cattle  car. 

"  Not  like  stopping  at  the  Palace  Hotel  in  San 
Francisco,  is  it  ? "  said  his  uncle  to  Randy.  "  But 
never  mind ;  as  soon  as  we  leave  Dyea  we'll  have  all 
the  room  we  want,  and  more." 

"Sleeping  like  this  keeps  a  fellow  warm,"  said 
Randy,  who  felt  somehow  as  if  he  was  out  for  a  lark. 
Hut  by  and  by,  when  somebody  passed  over  him  in 
the  dark  and  slipped  on  his  chest,  he  did  not  think  it 
quite  so  much  fun. 

However,  the  night  passed  quickly  enough,  and  at 
daybreak  all  were  stirring,  for  they  had  reached  Dyea 
Inlet,  and  a  landing  was  expected  before  noon.  A 
stiff  breeze  was  blowing,  and  the  Inlet,  a  long,  narrow 
arm  of  Chilkoot  Inlet  and  the  canal,  was  filled  with 
angry  waves  blowing  from  off  shore.  Presently  the 
first  sight  of  Dyea  was  gained,  and  half  an  hour  later 
an  anchor  was  dropped,  and  the  voyage  so  far  as  the 
steamer  was  concerned  was  over. 


CHAPTER   XI. 


THE  START   FROM    DVEA. 


Randy  and  Earl  found  T)yea  but  a  small  settlement. 
There  was  one  store  whicli  had  been  established  for 
some  time,  and  halt'  a  dozen  others  whicli  had  sprung 
up  to  accommodate  the  miners  and  adventurers  who 
were  pouring  into  the  place.  The  total  white  popula- 
tion did  not  number  a  liundred,  but  there  were  a  very 
large  number  of  Indians,  —  men,  women,  jind  children, 
—  all  anxious  to  obtain  employment  as  pack-carriers 
o\er  the  mountains. 

The  steamer  had  anchored  some  distance  from  the 
beach,  and  it  was  no  light  work  to  get  the  packs  ashore 
in  the  heavy  sea  that  was  running.  Four  small  boats 
were  employed  for  the  purpose,  and  more  than  one 
bundle  was  lost  overboard  in  making  the  transfer  to 
land. 

"  There  goes  one  of  my  packs  I  "  suddenly  sang  out 
Dr.  Barwaithe,  as  a  small  boat  loaded  high  above 
the  gunwales  capsized  just  as  the  shore  was  struck. 
A  wild  scramble  by  the  miners  was  made  to  recover 
their  goods.  The  doctor  would  have  gone  into  the 
icy  water  also,  but  he  could  not  swim. 

86 


si£SLC£=:a.s^ 


o 


86 


TO   ALASKA    FOH   GOLD. 


M;    :!,'■' 


Several  Indians  who  were  watching  the  scene, 
rushed  up  to  the  medical  man.  "(jet  heem  fo'  one 
dolla !  "  said  the  largest  of  the  redmcn,  and  the  doctor 
made  the  bargain  on  the  spot.  At  once  the  Indian 
and  his  helper  leaped  into  the  surf  and  swam  toward 
the  pack,  which  contained  the  doctor's  clothing  and 
bedding,  and  was  becoming  rapidly  water  soaked. 
They  reached  the  pack  as  it  was  about  to  sink,  and 
after  ten  minutes  of  hard  work  brought  it  out  on  tlie 
pebbly  shore. 

By  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  all  hands  found 
themselves  encamped  along  the  half-dried-up  stream 
back  of  the  settlement.  Here  there  were  nearly  a 
hundred  tents  of  miners  and  prospectors  who  were  not 
quite  ready  to  attempt  the  trip  over  Chilkoot  Pass. 

The  Indian  who  had  rescued  the  doctor's  pack  stuck 
to  the  medical  man  for  the  job  of  transferring  his 
goods  over  to  Lake  Linderman,  stating  he  and  his  com- 
panions would  do  the  work  for  fifteen  cents  a  pound. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  that  rate  ? "  asked  Dr. 
Barwaithe  of  Foster  Portney,  while  Randy  and  Earl 
looked  on  with  interest. 

"I  don't  know  but  that  it's  fair  enough,"  was  the 
reply. 

"  But  wouldn't  it  be  better  to  take  horses  from  here 
and  use  Indians  only  over  the  pass?  You  know  we 
have  about  thirteen  miles  to  travel  before  the  pass  is 
reached." 


Ml" 


THE  START    FIIOM    UVEA. 


87 


*- 


"  We  had  l)etter  take  the  Indians  from  here,"  put  in 
Captain  Zoss.  "Thar's  no  tellin'  if  \vu  can  git  'em 
further  on,  eh?" 

"  Yes,  and  we  might  as  well  get  used  to  walking  it 
from  here,  too,"  added  Mr.  Portney.  "  It  will  do 
Kandy  and  Earl  some  good,  not  but  that  I  imagine 
they  can  tramp  as  well  as  any  of  us." 

"  We've  tramped  for  many  a  mile  through  the  Maine 
woods,  when  we  were  out  hunting,"  said  Randy.  "  By 
the  way,"  he  went  on,  "  I  haven't  seen  any  game  yet, 
outside  of  a  few  birds." 

The  big  Indian,  who  rejoiced  in  the  name  of  Salmon 
Head,  was  waiting  for  an  luiswer,  his  squaw  and  two 
boys  standing  close  by.  The  squaw  was  a  tall,  thin 
woman  of  forty,  whose  face  was  painted  a  greasy  black 
down  to  the  tip  of  her  nose,  the  ])alance  of  her  coun- 
tenance being  left  its  natural  color,  yellowish  red. 
The  boys  were  sturdy  lads  of  perhaps  ten  and  twelve, 
as  used  to  carrying  heavy  burdens  as  their  parents. 

The  bargain  was  struck  with  Salmon  Head  to  have 
the  goods  of  the  entire  party  packed  over  from  that 
spot  to  the  shore  of  Lake  Linderman  for  fifteen  cents 
a  pound,  the  work  to  be  accomplished  within  the  next 
four  days,  weather  permitting.  The  boys  had  ex- 
pected to  carry  some  of  the  goods,  but  at  this  Foster 
Portney  shook  his  head. 

"  You  couldn't  carry  over  forty  or  fifty  pounds  and 
maybe   not    that   over   the    Pass,"   he   said,    "and   I 


!v5 


:^1 


I 


88 


TO    ALASKA    TOU    tiULD. 


•i  • 


would  nitlier  pjiy  tin*  {men  iind  liavo  you  reserve  your 
stnjnt^tli.  You  can  eiicli  curry  a  kiuipsjick  tilled  with 
food,  in  case  you  wander  from  the  trail,  althouf^h  don't 
let  this  happen  if  you  can  possii)ly  avoid  it.  The  best 
rule,  in  going  over  any  pass,  is  to  keep  at  least  two 
other  members  of  the  party  in  sight  constantly." 

in  spite  of  the  close  proximity  of  the  snow-capped 
mountains,  tl-e  night  was  a  comparatively  warm  one, 
and  no  inconvenience  was  experienced  by  the  party 
in  their  tents.  Tlu^y  had  two,  one  belonging  to  Mr. 
Portney  and  the  boys,  the  other  being  one  Captain 
Zoss  and  Dr.  IJarwaithe  had  purchased  at  Juneau  for 
mutual  cou'fort.  The  tents  were  put  up  end  to  end, 
and  being  both  water  and  wind  tight  were  almost  as 
good  to  sleep  in  as  a  cabin. 

The  outlits  had  been  carefully  parcelled  out  to  the 
Indians,  Salmon  Head  cfirrying  a  load  of  over  a  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  pounds,  his  squaw  carrying  a 
hundred  pounds,  and  the  sons  loads  of  about  half  that 
weight.  Relatives  of  these  Indians  carried  the  re- 
mainder of  the  loads;  for  these  Chilkoot  people,  like 
other  redmen,  believed  in  keeping  all  they  could  in 
the  family. 

Usually  the  journey  to  Lake  Linderman  was  made  in 
two  stages,  the  first  from  Dyea  to  the  entrance  to 
Chilkoot  Pass,  and  the  second  over  the  Pass  itself  and 
down  to  the  lake,  which  may  fairly  be  called  the  south- 
ern headwaters  of  the  Yukon  River.     This  course  was 


TIN-:   STAllT    I'UOM    DYEA. 


89 


to  1)0  pnrsiuMl  hy  llic  in-t'sciit  pjirty,  and  briijjlit  and 
early  on  tlu^  rollowini;  moiiiiiii^  tlioy  starteil  ont  on 
what  was  dosliiiiMl  to  hu  the  most  pcrilons  tri[>  of  tlunr 
livi's.  Cai)tain  Zoss  went  ahead  with  the  Indians, 
while  the  hoy;,  and  their  nnele  and  the  doctor  kept  in 
a  buneh  behind. 

At  the  start,  the  trip  was  alonuf  the  bottom  of  a  deep 
canon,  on  either  side  of  which  ar(>so  mountains  and 
clifl's  for  the  most  part  cov^  r. d  with  snow  and  ice. 
Down  in  this  canon  (lowed  wliut  is  called  the  Dyea 
Kiver,  a  mere  mountain  t<  rrenf.  dashin<»'  over  rocks 
and  cra<j[s  and  here  ami  tiien;  ')roiideninf^  out  into  a 
shallow  flow  over  santl  and  [>ebl)les.  Walking  was 
rou,<;li,  for  at  times  they  had  to  leap  from  one  great 
rock  to  another  or  else  let  themselves  down,  to  wade 
through  water  and  sand  nj)  to  their  knees.  The  wind 
had  calmed  down,  yet  once  in  a  while  it  sent  upon 
them  a  Hurry  of  fine  snow  from  the  distant  mountain 
tops. 

''  We  are  not  getting  ahead  very  fast ! "  puffed  Randy, 
as  he  and  the  others  came  to  a  halt  on  a  flat  rock  to 
rest.  "  We've  been  walking  for  three  hours,  and  I 
doubt  if  we  have  covered  more  than  five  miles." 

"•1  heard  at  Dyea  that  the  thirteen  miles  to  the  en- 
trance to  the  Pass  is  considered  a  good  day's  journey," 
said  Earl.  "  I'm  rather  glad  I'm  not  carrying  that  load 
Salmon  Head  has  strapped  to  his  back." 

"It  would  take  me  a  week  to  get  that  load  up,"  said 


\-. 


m 


H 


'  m 


I 


m 


•  m 


ll 


V,tU    i  > 


i' 


i'^ 


90 


TO    AI-ASKA    FOIJ    COM). 


Kiindy.       "I    ean't    iimlcrHlaiul   liow    Ihosc;   boy.s   ^ai 
alonpf." 

"  It's  a  matter  of  traiiiinj'',"  said  Kostor  I'ort- 
noy.  "1  daro  say  oitlier  of  you  can  cut  down  a  tree  in 
half  the  time  tliat  those  Chilkoots  can  do  it." 

On  they  went  au^ain,  tlie  trail  now  growing  s'UujjMfr 
and  more  barren.  A  few  stunted  firs  lined  the  canon, 
and  here  and  tluu'e  could  be  seen  a  half-dead  vine 
twisted  about  tlu^  lir  braiu'.hes,  and  that  was  all,  so  far 
as  vep^etation  went.  And  this  was  coming  summer 
time  ! 

"It  must  be  dreariness  itself  in  winter,"  remarked 
Earl,  to  his  uncle,  as  they  trudged  along  side  by  side. 
"  I  never  saw  anything  so  desolate,  not  even  in  the 
wildest  parts  of  Maine." 

"  It  is  this  desolate  look  which  has  kept  men  out  of 
Alaska,  Earl.  jNlany  have  known  of  there  being  gold 
there,  but  they  preferred  to  remain  down  in  the  States, 
where  living,  at  least,  was  more  certain  and  congenial. 
You'll  find,  my  lad,  that  you  will  need  all  your  nerve 
and  backbone  to  withstand  what  is  before  you.  Per- 
haps I  did  wrong  in  urging  you  to  join  me." 

"  No,  you  didn't  —  I'm  glad  I  came,  and  so  is  Randy, 
and  we'll  get  through,"  answered  Earl,  hastily.  "  Oh, 
look  !  "  he  pointed  to  where  a  flock  of  birds  were  cir- 
cling far  overhead.     "  Shall  I  give  them  a  shot  ?  " 


(( 


No  !  no  !  "  cried  Foster  Portney,  hastily.     "  I  for- 
arranj 


got  to  tell  you.     I 


iged  with  the  Indians  that  no 


V  '»  , 


Tf?K    MP  A  HI'    FUOM    DVEA, 


91 


31'- 


.y» 


li, 


■)  : 


\ 


Hhf)t  Hlnmld  Ik;  linMl  ^mi  (Ik;  U'\\)  vxc,{)[)\\uij;  soiiu!  otk;  was 
in  li()iil)I(3  and  iircdcd  assistiinci!.  I'll  inlonn  tin; 
otliors."      And  Im;  halted  for  tlii!  otlairs  to  conif!  up. 

Captain  Zoss  provided  tiie  dinner  at  aixtnt  on*! 
o'clock,  all  hands  tnkinL(  it  easy  on  some  (;lear  ro(;ks  in 
the  sunshiiKi.  As  may  Ix;  supposed,  the  \'i\ri)  was  a 
plain  oiH!,  yet  to  Handy  and  I'^arl  nolliin<^^  had  ever 
tasted  l)ett(!r,  foi*  elimhinLC  iind  tin;  l»raein<,'  monnlain 
air  gave  them  enormous  aj)p(!tites.  I  h«'y  could  have; 
eaton  more  than  was  ])rovided  but  understood  that 
from  henceforth  until  further  suj)j)lies  were;  assured, 
rations  would  be  dealt  out  with  a  sparin^^  hand. 

As  soon  as  tlu;  diiUKir  disli(;s  had  lu.'en  cleaned  and 
repacked  the  journey  to  Sheep  Camp,  iis  tli(!  stoppin<(- 
pbice  was  called,  was  renewed.  'I'lu;  trail  was  now 
steeper  than  ever,  and  more  than  once  the  stream  of 
water  had  to  he  crossed.  10v(;ry  one  was  sufferinf^''  from 
wet  feet,  but  as  all  had  on  several  pairs  of  heavy  socks, 
this  did  no  further  damage  than  to  render  them  cohl 
in  their  nether  lind)s.  As  the  trail  grew  rougher  the 
Indians,  who  knew  every  footstep,  forged  ahcjad,  and 
the  others  were  allowed  to  shift  for  themselves. 

It  was  about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  that  Handy 
and  his  uncle  were  walking  one  behind  the  other,  with 
Captain  Zoss  and  Dr.  Harwaithe  just  in  the  rear. 
The  captain  had  been  relating  one  of  his  experiences 
in  mountain  clind)ing  in  Colorado,  to  which  all  had  lis- 
tened wdth  interest.     The  story  was  finished,  and  they 


■■'■■, 


92 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


H^ 


were  congratulating  themselves  that  the  end  of  the 
(lay's  tramp  was  close  at  hand,  when  Handy  suddenly 
looked  around  in  alarm. 

"  Where  is  Earl  ? "  he  asked 

"Earl!"  exclaimed  Mr.  Portney.  *'Why,  he  is 
ahead,  isn't  he  ? "" 

"  No,  he  dropped  behind,  to  fix  his  boot,"  was  the 
quick  reply.     "  Earl  !     Earl  !  " 

The  cry  was  repeated,  and  the  others  also  took  it  up. 
Then  they  waited  for  an  answer,  but  none  came.  Earl 
had  disappeared.  They  waited  for  five  minutes  for 
him  to  make  his  reappearance,  but  he  did  not  come; 
and  then  they  started  on  a  search  for  him. 


' 


I 


the 
nly 


!1 


I     IS 

the 

up. 

Carl 

for 

lue; 


CHAPTER   XII. 

EAKL    HAS   AN   ADVENTrUK. 

As  Randy  had  exphiined,  Earl  had  stopped  on  the 
trail  to  fix  his  boot.  In  crossing  the  nionntain  stream 
he  had  shipped  a  lot  of  water,  and  he  sat  down  on  a 
rock  and  held  up  liis  foot,  to  allow  the  water  to  run 
out  on  the  ground. 

Unfortunately  for  the  youth  he  had  rested  on  a  rock 
which  was  by  no  means  secure  on  the  bank  of  the 
stream,  and  now,  as  he  leaned  to  one  side,  the  rock 
slipi)ed  from  its  resting-place,  and  down  went  poor 
Earl  into  the  water  head  first.  As  luck  would  have 
it,  he  struck  in  some  loose  sand,  otherwise  he  would 
have  been  seriously  injured.  Even  as  it  was  he  was 
stunned  for  the  moment,  and  before  he  could  turn  he 
had  gulped  down  a  great  deal  of  water.  He  was  nearly 
blinded  by  some  fine  sand  getting  into  his  eyes  and 
began  to  flounder  around  as  though  in  the  midst  of 
an  ocean  instead  of  a  watercourse  less  than  fifty  feet 
wide  and  five  feet  deep. 

It  took  several  minutes  for  him  to  save  himself  by 
reaching  a  large  rock   in   the   centre  of   the   stream. 


m 


94 


TO   ALASKA    I'Oli    (JOLD. 


I 


Collectiiij^  his  scattered  senses,  lie  eliisired  liis  eyes  as 
best  be  eoukl  and  took  a  view  of  his  situation. 

The  roek  was  six  feet  in  diameter  and  two  feet  above 
tlie  top  of  tlie  water.  On  either  si(U5  flowed  the  stream 
at  a  rate  whieli  he  knew  woukl  be  (|uite  sulliieient  to 
take  him  off  his  feet  shoukl  he  attem[)t  to  ford  to  shore. 
What  was  to  be  done  in  tliis  emergency  he  did  not  at 
flrst  know.  The  others  had  gone  on  ahead,  and  al- 
though lie  called  to  them,  no  one  heard  his  cry. 

Had  he  had  his  gun  he  wouhl  have  lired  it,  had  the 
weapon  been  in  condition.  But  less  than  (juarter  of 
an  hour  before  he  had  pjissed  the  fowling-piece  over  to 
Captain  Zoss,  the  captain  having  asked  to  inspect  it. 
lie  must  help  himself,  or  go  without  assistance. 

Standing  on  th<^  rock,  he  saw  that  escape  to  either 
side  was  out  of  the  question,  and  escape  up  the  stream 
was  also  cut  off.  Below,  however,  were  a  series  of 
rocks  running  off'  to  shore,  and  after  some  hesitation 
he  drop])ed  into  the  stream  and  allowed  himself  to  be 
carried  down  to  these  rocks. 

Five  minutes  of  struggling  in  the  current  found  him 
safe  on  the  opposite  shore  to  that  upon  which  the  lower 
portion  of  the  trail  to  Chilkoot  Pass  lay.  The  question 
now  was,  how  to  get  back  to  the  other  side  of  the 
river. 

"  I'll  walk  along  on  this  side  until  1  get  a  chance  to 
cross  over,"  he  said,  half  aloud,  nd  then  the  loneliness 
of  his  situation  dawned  upon  him.    He  struck  out  with- 


i 


KAHL   HAS   AN    ADVENTURE. 


96 


t 


out  delay,  detenniiied  to  eutcli  up  with  the  others  of 
the  pjtrty  jih  quickly  as  [)ossil)le. 

For  the  lirst  (piarter  of  a  mile  Earl  did  very  well, 
l)ut  soon  he  noted  to  his  dismay  that  the  stream  was 
widening,  and  that,  oonsecpiently,  he  was  getting  fur- 
ther and  further  away  from  the  other  side.  He  had 
been  making  his  way  along  a  elitt"  lined  with  short 
firs.  Now  the  eliif  eame  to  an  abrupt  end,  and  be- 
yond he  beheld  nothing  but  a  mass  of  jagged  roeks 
and  a  jungle  of  brush,  to  pass  through  whieh  would 
be  next  to  impossible. 

''•  Stumped  now !  "  he  muttered  to  himself,  and  his 
face  fell  as  he  surveyed  his  situation.  The  stream  at 
this  point  was  all  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  wide, 
and  the  trail  opposite  was  not  close  to  the  water's  edge, 
but  wound  in  behind  the  rocks  and  fir  trees. 

"I've  got  to  get  over  to  that  trail,  that's  certain !  " 
he  went  on,  after  a  disagreeable  pause.  "  Here  goes  to 
try  the  water  again,"  and  with  extreme  care  he  began 
the  descent  of  the  clitt',  whieh  was  some  twenty  feet 
high.  The  bottom  was  reached  in  safety,  and  he  found 
himself  standing  in  water  and  sand  half  up  to  his  knees. 

Because  of  the  widening  of  the  stream  at  this  point 
the  current  was  not  so  strong,  and  he  began  to  wade  in 
deeper  and  deeper,  until  one-quarter  of  the  width  had 
been  passed  and  he  found  himself  up  to  his  waist.  He 
shivered  with  the  cold  and  felt  like  going  back,  but  a 
few  steps  more  brought  him  to  a  sand-bar,  where  the 


m 


•  i 


96 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   (JOLD. 


■M 


tl 


r  'i 

li  V 


water  scarcely  toiiclied  liis  knees.  Overjoyed  at  tliis, 
he  attempted  to  follow  up  the  bar,  soon  reaching  and 
passing  the  middle  of  the  river.  He  was  wading  on 
more  confidently  than  ever,  wheix  of  a  sudden  the  bar 
came  to  an  end,  and  down  he  plunged  into  a  pool  over 
his  head. 

The  one  thing  to  do  now  was  to  swim,  and  Earl 
struck  out  boldly  for  the  shore,  still  thirty  feet  away. 
The  weight  of  his  heavy  clothing  was  against  him,  and 
the  current  carried  him  on  and  on  down  the  stream 
and  toward  a  mass  of  jagged  rocks  fearful  to  behold. 
Had  he  been  of  a  less  rugged  temperament  the  cold 
water  might  have  given  him  both  a  chill  and  a  cramp. 

Five  minutes  of  fearful  anxiety  passed,  and  Earl  was 
almost  exhausted,  when,  putting  his  foot  down,  he 
struck  bottom  at  a  depth  of  four  feet.  This  encour- 
aged him,  and  he  renewed  his  effort  to  reach  the  bank 
beyond.  Yet  another  pool  had  to  be  crossed,  and  when 
finally  he  did  pull  himself  out  of  the  stream  and  safe 
up  on  a  sloping  rock  he  was  too  exhausted  to  do  aught 
but  lie  down  on  his  side  and  pant  for  breath. 

It  was  here  that  Randy  and  his  uncle  found  him,  just 
as  he  was  making  an  effort  to  gain  his  feet  and  con- 
tinue his  search  for  them.  They  were  overjoyed  to 
learn  that  he  had  not  suffered  serious  injury.  They 
called  to  Captain  Zoss  and  Dr.  Barwaithe,  who  were 
close  by,  and  soon  all  were  together  again. 

Captain  Zoss  had  an  extra  shirt  in  his  pack,  and  this 


EAllL    HAS   AN    ADVENTrilE. 


97 


jre 


Earl  borrowed,  along  with  a  dry  coat  buloiiging  to  his 
uncle.  Botli  articles  of  wearing  apparel  were  too  large 
for  him,  but  he  gladly  exchanged  them,  for  the  time  be- 
ing, for  his  wet  ones;  and  then  the  delayed  journey 
toward  Sheep  Camp  was  continued. 

When  the  resting-place  for  the  night  was  gained,  it 
was  found  that  all  of  the  Indians  had  come  in  over  an 
hour  before  and  had  sought  out  a  comfortable  camp  for 
them  under  a  large  overhanging  rock.  A  number  of 
others  had  also  arrived,  and  over  a  dozen  tents  had 
been  pitched  in  addition  to  those  already  there.  Ac- 
cording to  lot,  it  was  Kandy's  turn  to  get  a  meal  ready, 
and.  he  set  to  work  without  delay,  starting  a  roaring 
fire  of  pine  branches  and  logs,  that  Earl  might  warm 
and  dry  himself.  Dr.  IJarwaithe  had  brought  with 
him  a  newly  patented  sheet-iron  camp  stove,  and  on 
this  a  pot  of  water  was  soon  boiling,  to  be  used  in 
making  coffee,  while  Randy  also  offered  them  fried 
potatoes  and  a  deliciously  cooked  fish  one  of  the 
Indians  brought  in. 

Outside  of  the  doctor,  who  was  not  used  to  walking 
over  such  rough  ground,  no  one  felt  any  ill  effects  of 
the  day's  journey,  although  all  were  glad  to  turn  in  at 
the  earliest  possible  moment.  The  doctor  had  worn  a 
slight  blister  on  his  heel,  and,  in  order  to  prevent  this 
giving  him  serious  concern  later,  he  put  some  salve  on 
it  and  bound  it  up  before  retiring. 

Ere  they  crawled  into  the  tent,  both  boys  took  a  look 


:!^l 


H 


h   ' 


iii 


98 


TO    ALASKA    FOIl   (}OLI). 


lit  the  great,  wliite  mountains,  wliicli  loomed  up  before 
them.  Here  was  tlie  entrance  to  Cliilkoot  I*ass,  and 
tliere,  almost  lost  among  the  elouds,  was  the  dreaded 
summit,  with  moujitains  still  higher  on  either  side  of 
it.  Handy  drew  closer  to  Karl  as  he  surveyed  the  awe- 
inspiring  scene. 

''  Earl,  we've  got  an  everlasting  hard  climb  before 
us,  "  he  whispered.     "  Do  you  think  we'll  make  it  ?  " 

"  We  must  make  it,  Kandy,"  was  the  low  and  earnest 
reply.  '"It  won't  tlo  to  show  the  white  feather  now. 
Uncle  would  never  forcfive  us." 

"  Some  parts  of  it  look  like  crawling  up  the  side  of 
a  house,"  and  Randy  shuddered.  "  If  a  fellow  should 
fall,  he'd  break  his  neck  sure." 

"•  I  guess  you're  right,  Kandy  ;  although  it  may  not 
be  so  bad  when  one  is  right  on  top  of  it.  There  is  a 
sort  of  a  trail,  you  know,  although  it's  not  much.  I 
heard  Salmon  lleatl  tell  Uncle  he  hoped  it  would  be  cold 
to-morrow  night,  and  that  we  should  start  for  the  Pass 
about  four  or  live  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  I  wonder 
what  he  meant  by  that." 

"I  heard  Captain  Zoss  speaking  of  it.  They  start 
toward  evening  so  as  to  pass  the  deepest  snows  on  the 
summit  about  midnight  when  a  crust  forms  to  walk  on, 
for  at  this  season  of  the  year  the  deep  snows  are  too  soft 
to  be  trusted  when  the  sun  is  shining." 

"  And  what  happens  to  a  fellow,  I  wonder,  if  he  breaks 
through  the  snow  ?  " 


KAKL    MAS    AN    AiniONTrUK. 


91) 


"I  (lon'l  know,  I'm  suic  —  I  i^iiess  ho  j^ocs  to  king- 
dom ('onu',"  iind  Iviindy  slMiddcrud  ii<(iiin.  "  We'll 
know  all  ubont  it  by  this  linit;  to-morrow  niglit."  And 
then  both  boys  rutiriMl,  to  (beam  of  purilons  clindjs  over 
the  snow-chul  mountains  and  Icarfnl  i'alls  into  gii^antic 
crevasses,  until  both  awoke  in  a  Iright  and  covered  with 
cohl  perspirati(m. 

Jt  was  not  until  late  that  anybody  was  stirring  the 
next  day.  It  was  lOarFs  turn  to  get  breakfast,  auv  lie 
told  them  if  they  would  wait  he  would  treat  them  to 
freshly  baked  beans  and  hot  bread;  and  all  waited. 
While  Earl  was  at  work,  with  Kandy  heli)ing  him,  two 
of  the  Indian  boys  eame  up,  and  their  efforts  at  making 
themselves  understood  were  laughable.  Finally  Uandy 
made  out  that  they  wanted  an  ol  I  silk  neckerchief  lie 
possessed,  and  he  gave  it  to  Tomablink,  the  older  youth, 
who  was  as  proud  of  the  article  as  if  it  had  been  worth 
a  small  fortune. 

Under  the  advice  of  Foster  Portney,  all  took  it  easy 
in  camp  that  day,  in  order  to  reserve  their  strength  for 
the  struggle  to  come.  Even  the  Indians  seemed  to  grow 
a  bit  uneasy  concerning  what  was  before  them ;  for,  al- 
though they  had  climbed  over  the  Pass  a  number  of 
times,  they  well  knew  what  a  rough  and  highly  danger- 
ous proceeding  each  new  trip  was  likely  to  be.  On  this 
terrible  Pass  more  than  one  Indian  and  white  man  had 
been  lost,  never  to  be  heard  of  again. 

At  last,   at  exactly  four  o'clock    in    the   afternoon, 


% 


100 


TO   ALASKA    FOR   UOLD. 


Salmon  Head  announced  his  nnidincHS  to  start.  As 
chief  of  the  Indian  party,  he  liad  looked  to  it  that  each 
carrier's  pack  was  i)roi)crly  adjusted,  and  now  he  gave 
several  directions  to  the  whites  to  the  effect  that  they 
should  keep  together  as  much  as  possible  and  always  in 
sight  of  his  own  people. 

"  Don't  think  there  be  an  easy  this  way  or  that,"  he 
said  in  broken  English.  "  Indian  know  best  way  in 
the  end  —  you  follow  him  day  and  night,  or  you  lost. 
Stick  foot  deep  down  when  climb,  and  no  let  go  with 
hands." 

His  manner  was  so  earnest,  all  promised  to  remember 
his  words.  Then  the  crowd  of  whites  and  Indians  was 
gathered  together,  the  tents  were  struck  and  packed  ; 
and  the  terrifying  journey  over  the  dreadful  Chilkoot 
Pass  was  begun. 


CIIAITKIJ    XIII. 

AT   THE   Sl'MMIT   OK    CHILKOOT   TASS. 

At  Sheep  Camp,  which  hiy  in  soinethin<>'  of  a  hollow, 
there  had  been  a  goodly  collection  of  trees  and  brush, 
but  now,  as  the  little  party  started  on  the  journey  to 
the  summit  of  Chilkoot  Pass,  all  tliis  was  left  behind, 
and  nothing  confronted  them  but  immense  beds  or 
glaciers  of  snow,  which  crunched  under  their  feet  and 
gave  forth  a  hollow  sound.  At  certain  2)oints  they 
could  plainly  hear  the  rushing  of  water  far  beneath. 

"  Gracious,  if  a  fellow  went  through  this  crust  of 
snow  what  would  hapi)en  to  him  ?  "  said  Handy,  as  he 
tnulged  on,  with  his  uncle  just  ahead  of  him  and  Earl 
behind. 

"  Let  us  hope  that  no  such  fate  overtakes  any  of 
the  party,"  rej^lied  Mr.  Portney,  gravely.  "  It  is  not 
likely  that  one  can  break  through  here,"  he  added, 
'"'•  for  the  snow  in  the  trail  is  pretty  well  packed 
down." 

The  blinding  glare  of  the  sun  had  caused  all  to  put 
on  their  smoked  glasses,  or  goggles,  but  now,  as  the 
great  orb  of  day  was  lost  to  sight  behind  the  mountain 

101 


i 


:1i 


ll 


Hi 


Pi  I  I 


191  i_ 


102 


TO    ALASKA    FOll    COLD. 


topH,  (heso  |)r()t('(!t()rs  for  tlio  eyos  wort;  rtunovcd,  tluit 
tliey  iiiiglit  SCO  their  way  clcurtM-.  Tho  Alaskjiii  twi 
liglit  was  (irui'pini,^  on  tlicni,  caiisiiiLJC  all  tlioir  surrouiul- 
ings  to  turn  to  a  pale  blue  color.  Tl.o  mists  of  tlu; 
mountains  were  also  risinpf,  and  on  every  hand  were 
weird,  jj^hostlikc  siiadows  which  enhancctl  this  scene  of 
wild  desolation. 

On  and  on  went  the  white  nuMnbers  of  the  party, 
doing  their  best  to  keep  the  sturdy  Indian  pack-car- 
riers well  in  sijjfht.  But  the  red  people,  with  their 
hideously  })ainted  faces,  knew  every  foot  of  the  way, 
and  made  rapid  pi-ou^rcss,  and  it  was  all  the  others 
couhl  do  at  times  to  keep  up. 

By  ten  o'clock  it  began  to  grow  colder,  and  even 
the  boys  could  feel  the  crust  of  snow  on  which  they 
were  trudging  becoming  firmer  beneath  their  feet. 
It  was  far  from  dark,  a  pale  glimmer  of  light  hanging 
on  every  mountain  top.  But  now  the  trail  became 
suddenly  steeper,  and  they  found  themselves  going 
straight  up  the  side  of  a  hill  several  hundred  feet 
high. 

"  Plant  your  feet  firmly  at  every  step,"  were  Foster 
Portney's  words  of  caution.  "  And  remember,  looking 
back  will  do  you  no  good." 

This  last  warning  was  for  Randy's  benefit,  for  the 
lad  had  just  looked  back  and  shivered  over  the  awful 
descent  below  him.  A  fall  would  mean  a  long  roll, 
and  a  broken  neck  over  a  cliff  below. 


AT    TIIK   HirMMIT    OK   Cim.KCHJr    I'ASH. 


108 


111 


(^ii])tjiin  ZoHs  hiul  *f()nii  on  iilicad  willj  llu;  Indians 
ainl  just  bt'lori!  niidniL^'lil  he  canu'  l)ack  with  a  warnin:^' 
to  watch  out  for  scrvt'ral  s[)lits,  or  crevasses,  in  tlie 
ghiciers  th(!y  wtsre  now  traversing. 

'' Sahnon  lli!ad  says  hv.  heaid  a  rej)ort  of  several 
new  ones  just  htd'ore  start in;^',  and  tlitise  are  as  yet 
unmarked,"  he  said. 

"W(!M1  l»e  as  careful  as  w(;  can,"  said  Dr.  liar- 
waithe.     "We  can  (h>  no  niort!." 

They  now  passed  over  a  hioad  plain  of  snow  wlu;r(! 
the  mists  hunjjj  more  tlu(d<ly  than  ever.  '1  hey  had 
almost  reached  the  centre!  of  tin?  ]>lain  when  a  loud  cry 
from  the  Indians  ahead  caused  them  to  halt. 

"What  (;an  he  tht;  meaning"  of  that?"  (piestioned 
Karl,     "(.'an  they  be  in  trouble?" 

Presently,  from  among  the  mists  appeared  the  form 
of  one  of  the  Indian  carriers,  without  his  bundle. 
He  soon  exjjhuned  in  broken  Knj^lish  that  he  liad  ])een 
sent  l)aek  by  Salmon  Head  to  wai'U  them  of  a  split  in 
the  ice  field  just  ahead.  Oju;  of  the  Indian  women  had 
slipped  in,  and  it  was  by  mere  good  fortune  that  some 
of  the  men  had  rescued  her. 

This  Indian  remained  with  them  until  tlu^  crack 
was  reached,  where  he  resumed  his  pack  and  went  on. 
The  opening  was  an  irreguhir  one,  from  four  to  eight 
feet  wide  and  of  unfathomable  depth.  Fortunately 
the  sides  were  well  defined  and  firm,  so  they  had  small 
trouble  in  leaping  across. 


n 


p  I' 


t 


If 


''I 


I  ill 


101 


ro    ALASKA    ViHl   i\0]A). 


"  II  was  ufond  oi'  lluMii  lo  send  a  inaii  hiick,"  Hjiid 
llir  doctor,  ;is  lie  pimscd  to  jHM'.r  dowi  into  tlio  crc-vusst'. 
"  Had  wo  not  Immmi  warned  wo  niisj^lit  luivo  Hlipptul  into 
that  witliont  knowing'  it." 

'Vho  trail  now  wonnd  in  and  ont.  anionic  ii  nuinluM'  of 
small  liills,  and  onoo  aqain  tiu^  ps'ity  alioad  was  lost  to 
sii;iit.  With  the  incroasinn'  coitl  oanu;  a  stiff  wind 
thn)ui>'h  tho  i)assos,  l)rinL;inn'  dow!i  npon  llunr  heads  a 
veritable  storm  of  snow,  swept  from  tlu^  monntaiu  tops 
above. 

"  I  ean  riNidily  nndtM'stand  how  impossibh^  it  wonld 
be  to  make  one's  way  throni;ii  this  Pass  dnrini;'  tlie 
w^inter,"  said  l)r.  Harwaith(\  "•  A  r(\!j^nlar  fall  of  snow 
would  mean  a  bli/./ard  down  here  and  asnowin<(  in  from 
whieh  there  would  be  no  escape  until   si)rinL>'  arrived." 

"And  think  of  the  cold  I "  said  Karl.  "  IMiew  ! 
the  thermometer  must  i:fo  to  about  forty  below  zero!" 

"  It  does  go  as  low  as  that  at  times,"  replied  liis 
uncle.  ''No;  travelling-  through  this  Pass  during  the 
long  Alaskan  winter  is  entirely  out  of  tho  question. 
The  man  to  undertake  it  would  be  a  madman." 

They  had  come  to  the  end  of  the  comparatively  level 
portion  of  the  trail,  and  now  clind)ing  so  dangerous 
was  at  hand  that  little  more  was  said.  From  one  steep 
icv  elevation  they  would  crawl  to  the  next,  until 
several  hundred  feet  up.  Then  came  a  turn  around 
a  clift'  wdiere  the  })assagcway  w\is  scarcely  two  feet 
wide,   with   a   wall    on   one   side    and   what    appeared 


I  I 


AT  'lino  siMMir  OK  ciiii.Koor  tahh. 


I  or> 


niisly,  l)f)t.t(miI(!KH  Hpaci!  on  ili(!  otlnn".  l[rro  trio 
IiidiiUis  li;i(l  l";istt!tnMl  ii  liimd-roixj  wliicli  (jach  vvjih 
^lad  ('i»()U<,''li  to  'jlut'h  Jis  li(j  worniud  his  way  iiloiijL^ 
to  .sal'(!i'  ground. 

"  VVt'll,  I  don't  want  any  nion;  of  that  !  "  .said  Karl, 
with  a  lonj^  si,L^li  of  icliuf.  "  y\  .slip  tlicrc,  and  it  would 
b(j  good-by,  suro  !  '' 

"  Yes,  and  I  guess  tlicy  would  n;!V(;r  even  get  your 
body,"  added  Itandy. 

Tlieri!  was  no  tini<!  left  to  halt,  for  tlic;  Indians  w(T(5 
pressing  on,  their  enduraiuje,  and  espeeially  the  erulur- 
ane(!  of  tlie  women  and  the  b(jys,  jiroving  a  constant 
wonder  to  Randy  and  lOarl,  the  latter  declaring  that 
they  must  Ije  tougher  than   pine  knotH  to  stand   it. 

"One  more  big  climb,  boy.s,  and  we'll  be  at  the  sum- 
mit !  "  was  the  welconif:  announcement  made  by  (Jap- 
tain  Zoss  ;  but  when  Earl  and  Randy  looked  at  the  climb 
he  mentioned  their  hearts  fairly  sank  within  them  and 
they  wondered  how  in  the  world  they  were  going  to 
make  it  without  its  costing  them  their  lives. 

An  almost  f^heer  wall  of  ice  and  snow  confronted 
them,  rising  in  an  irregular  form  to  a  height  of  four 
hundred  feet.  This  cliff,  if  such  it  might  be  called, 
was  more  light  at  its  top  than  at  the  base,  and  conse- 
(luently  it  appeared  to  .stand  out  towards  them  as  they 
gazed  up  at  it.  Along  the  face  the  Indian  pack-car- 
nerij  were  crawling,  like  flies  on  a  lumpy  wliitewashed 
wall. 


106 


TO    ALASKA    V()\i    (JOLD. 


L'  t       r 


"We  can't  do  — "  l)egan  liiiiidy,  when  he  felt  his 
arm  pinched  by  Earl. 

"  W  .  must  do  it,  Randy,"  came  back  in  a  whisper. 
"The  Indians  are  doing  it,  and  so  can  we  —  if  we'll 
put  our  grit  into  it." 

"  Now  take  it  slow  and  be  sure  of  one  foot  before  you 
move  the  next,"  said  Foster  Portney,  warning  them 
again.  "  Dig  as  deeply  into  the  ice  and  snow  as  you 
can.  And  above  all  things.  Randy  and  Earl,  dont  look 
hack!'"'  ^.nd  the  uncle  shook  his  fist  to  emphasize  his 
words. 

A  breathing  spell  Avas  taken,  and  then  they  started 
slowly  for  the  base  of  the  cliff,  where  Captain  Zoss  got 
down  on  his  knees  to  make  sure  that  they  were  on  the 
right  trail,  if  trail  it  could  be  called.  He  soon  an- 
nounced that  one  party  had  gone  up  at  one  place  and 
the  others  at  a  spot  about  thirty  feet  to  the  left. 

"  I'll  try  my  luck  here,"  he  said,  and  the  doctor 
agreed  to  follow  him.  There  was  no  telling  which 
trail  was  the  better,  and  the  Portneys  took  the  other, 
Mr.  Portney  going  first,  with  Randy  next  and  Earl  last. 
The  uncle  wished  to  make  sure  of  the  footing  before  he 
allowed  the  boys  to  come  after  him. 

The  first  hundred  feet  up  were  not  as  difficult  as 
Randy  and  Earl  had  imagined,  but  now  every  step  had 
to  be  calculated,  and  when  half  way  up  Foster  Portney 
came  to  a  halt. 

"  Here's  a  very  steep  place,"  he  announced,  without, 


AT   THE   SUMMIT   OF   CIIILKOOT    I'ASS. 


107 


liowever,  lookint,'  back.  ''  Rfuidy,  when  yoi'  reacli  it, 
catch  hold  of  tlic  spur  of  ice  with  your  left  hand  and 
put  your  foot  just  beneath  it.  Tell  Earl  to  do  die 
same." 

"  I  will,"  answered  Randy,  but  when  the  spot  men- 
tioned was  reached  })oor  Randy's  heart  leaped  into  his 
throat.  The  sheer  wall  before  him  was  nearly  as  higli 
as  a  house,  and  there  was  nothing  to  cling  to  but  little 
lumps  of  ice  which  stuck  out  here  and  there.  The 
lumT)s  might  crack  off,  and  then  —  ho  did  not  dare  to 
think  further  than  that.  He  was  strangely  tem[)ted  to 
look  below  him,  l)ut  his  uncle's  words  of  warning  rang 
in  his  ears  —  "  Dont  look  hack  !  "  and  he  did  not. 

One  step  was  taken,  and  then  another,  and  Randy 
felt  as  if  he  was  suspended  in  the  air,  with  iKjthing 
above  or  beneath  him.  A  brief  vision  of  himself  lying 
mangled  far  below  flashed  across  his  mind,  and  he 
wished  himself  safe  back  in  the  woods  of  Maine  airain. 
What  was  all  the  gold  in  Alaska  worth  alongside  of 
such  an  agonizing  risk  of  life  as  this  ? 

But  he  must  go  on  ;  he  could  not  remain  where  he 
was  forever.  The  next  step  was  even  more  dit'ticult, 
and  he  held  his  1)reath  as  he  took  it.  He  had  been 
climbing  up  the  clitf  for  less  than  quarter  of  an  hour, 
yet  he  felt  a  year  older  than  when  he  had  begun. 
Would  the  climb  never  come  to  an  end? 

"  Take  it  easy,  boys ;  we  are  aluiost  there,"  came  the 
encouraging   voice   of   Foster  Portney,    although    the 


i;i 


i 


I' 


fl- 


II 


I 


''■\ 


w\ 


I 


108 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


uncle  was  almost  as  fearful  as  liis  nephews.  "  A  little 
•to  the  right  now,  and  beware  of  those  snow  lumps; 
they  are  not  firm  enough  to  hold  to.  I  can  see  the  top 
just  above  my  head.  Ah,  here  I  am.  Now,  Randy,  an- 
other step  and  give  me  your  hand.  Now,  Earl,  take 
the  same  step  Randy  took.  There  you  are.  Thank 
(xod  we  are  safe  so  far !  " 

The  two  boys  echoed  their  uncle's  sentiment,  with  a 
deep  feeling  in  their  hearts  which  they  never  forgot. 
The  summit  of  Chilkoot  Pass  had  been  reached  at 
last. 


■^ 


CTIAI'TER   XIV. 


BOAT-niMLl>lN(J    AT    LAKE    LlNlJliKMAN. 


Thk  l*ortiieys,  huvin^'  rciichcd  tlio  liiglit'st  })()iiit 
of  Cliilkoot  Puss,  were  presently  joined  l)y  Ciij)tain 
Zoss  and  Dr.  Harwaitlie,  wlio  had  L,n)n(3  through  a 
similar  experience  lo  that  jnst  described.  The  doctor 
hatl  once  come  very  close  to  losinij  his  footiniT,  und 
he  declared  that  he  would  not  make  the  climb  again 
for  a  million  dollars. 

They  sto])ped  for  a  few  minntes  to  view  tlie  scene 
from  the  edge  of  the  cliff.  On  either  side  were  the 
still  taller  mountains,  while  below  them  stretched 
that  portion  of  the  Pass  just  travelled,  like  a  valley 
of  f^littering'  ice,  thick  with  mist  and  wind-swept 
snow.  An  intense  silence  reigned,  broken  occasion- 
ally by  the  booming  and  crunching  of  some  immense 
glacier  in  the  distance. 

"A  grand  scene,  but  one  not  particularly  suited 
to  my  feelings,"  said  the  doctor.     "Let  us  go  on." 

"  Yes ;  the  sooner  we  git  out  o'  this  yere  Pass,  the 
better  1  will  be  pleased,"  added  the  captain.  '' Pve 
had  enough    climbin'  ter   last  me  two  lifetimes,  eh?" 

109 


ill 
;  li 


^i 


:  % 


tkl 


a  i ! 


: 


I 


'I 


I 


110 


TO   ALASKA    von   (iOLI). 


jiiid  hi}  <^;ivo  a  j^runt  smd  strodo  olV,  iuid  ilio  others 
followed. 

"  Tliiit  is,  I  boliovo,  the  most  i)erih)Us  part  of  tlie 
trip  to  the  ^ohl  liehls,"  remarked  booster  I'ortiiey. 
''Of  course  wo  have  still  a  u^ood  l)it  of  roii^li  country 
to  traverser  and  rajtids  in  the  rivers  to  shoot,  but  iiotli- 
inu^  (piite  so  bad  as  tiiat." 

Tlu>  ice  lltdds  from  the  summit  sloped  gradually 
downward  to  a  basin  some  distance  below,  called 
Crater  Lake.  'I'his  little  lake  was  frozen  solid  from 
top  to  bottom  and  covered  with  snow.  It  was 
luunnn  (1  in  on  three  sides  by  tall  mountains,  while 
ou  the  fourth  there  was  a  canon-like  opiMiing,  where 
au  ice-bound  stream  led  the  way  over  rocks  and  tiny 
clitVs  to  i^ake  Linderman,  at  the  end  of  the  Pass, 
flust  before  reaching  the  latter  lake,  they  passed  sev- 
eral large  posts  set  up  close  to  the  trail,  which  was 
now  once  more  cK'arly  delined. 

"  Those  are  surveyors'  posts,"  said  Foster  Portney, 
in  reply  to  a  question  from  Karl.  "•  We  have  just 
passed  from   United  States  into  British  territory." 

"  This,  then,  is  the  Northwest  Territory,"  said  Earl. 

"  Yes,  my  boy ;  and  the  entire  Klondike  region, 
from  Ogilvie  to   Relic  Isle,  is  in  that  territory." 

As  they  descended  to  the  lower  level  of  the  Pass., 
the  solid  ice  gave  way  to  rotten  ice  and  slush,  in 
which  they  frequently  sank  to  their  ankles.  Here 
the   stream    broadened    out   into   several    ponds,   and 


U()Ar-mJlIil)IN(l    AT    LAKIO    LINDEKMAN. 


Ill 


finally  i'ikIimI  in  a  wide,  marshy  expanse;,  f()rniin«(  tlie 
njipiT  end  of  Lake;  liinilcrnian.  Alon^  llio  cdgt;  of 
tills  maisli  they  i)U!k(;(l  their  way,  lirst,  however, 
stoi)i)inL(  for  dinner,  for  th(3  iii^dit  had  passed  and 
tlie  foienoon  had  been  eonsnnied  in  the  jonrney  from 
Crater  Lake.  'I'he  Indians  kei)t  pressing  on,  and  they 
followed. 

It  was  dark  again  when  they  eame  up  at  last  with 
their  paek-earriers  en(;amped  nnder  some  timber, 
whieh  st(jod  on  ji  little  hlul'f  not  ()V(!r  two  hundred 
feet  fi'om  the  lake.  Salmon  Head's  i)arty  had  started 
ji  rousint^  lire,  and  this  was  a  weleome  sight,  for  it 
made  all  feel  more  at  home.  No  time  was  lost  in 
getting  out  the  eooking  utensils  and  the  doctor's 
stove  ;  and  while  they  were  preparing  other  things, 
the  Indians  brought  several  fish  from  the  lake  to  be 
baked. 

''  I  guess  we'll  get  our  fill  of  fish  before  long,"  re- 
marked Earl. 

*'  Don't  you  want  any  now?"  smiled  his  uncle. 

"Want  any,  Uncle  Foster?  Indeed  I  do  I  Why, 
I'm  so  hungry  I  could  almost  eat  horse  meat !  "  was 
Karl's  earnest  reply  ;  and  he  bustled  around  with  the 
cups  and  plates,  that  they  might  not  be  delayed  as 
soon  as  the  coffee,  biscuits,  and  fish  were  done. 

The  Indians  remained  near  ])y  all  night,  and  early 
in  the  morning  a  general  reckoning-up  took  place, 
and  the  pack-carriers  were  paid  off  in  gold  and  silver, 


1'!  i-'i 

|fii 


m 


W    I 


m 


J! 


! 


112 


TO   ALASKA    FOR   CJOLD. 


not  cfiriii*!^  to  tjikc  the  paper  money  wliieli  was  offered. 
All  had  done  very  well,  and  Foster  i*ortney,  (Jap- 
tain  Zoss,  and  Dr.  Barwaitlie  did  not  dis[)Ute  the 
anionnts  asked,  although  they  were  a  tritle  hii^ii.  As 
soon  as  they  were  paid  off,  the  Indians  packed  up 
tlieir  own  articles,  hut  a  handful  in  nund)er,  and 
hurried  away  in  the  direction  whence  they  had 
come. 

"  Good  gracious !  are  they  going  right  back  to 
Dyea?"  exclaimed  Randy,  in  amazement. 

"Yes,  my  lad,"  was  Captain  Zoss's  answer.  "Sal- 
mon Head  calculates  to  pilot  another  lot  o'  miners 
over  as  soon  as  possible.  It's  his  hayin'  time,  ye  see, 
an'  he  intends  ter  make  the  most  o'  it." 

At  this  Earl  laughed.  "  I  guess  he's  not  going  to 
let  his  legs  get  stiff,"  he  cried.  "  I'm  as  stiff  as  an 
old  mule  this  morning.     What's  to  do  to-day?" 

"  We'll  locate  some  timber  for  boat-building,"  said 
his  uncle,  "and  get  our  traps  into  shape,  and  then 
rest.  Tliere  is  no  use  in  killing  ourselves  all  at 
once.  We've  got  a  matter  of  five  hundred  miles  to 
journey  yet." 

"If  we  go  up  into  the  timber,  T  suppose  we  can 
try  our  hand  at  shooting  something  if  anything  turns 
up,"  said  Randy. 

"Certainly;  shoot  all  the  game  you  can,  boys. 
We'll  want  it  to  help  eke  out  our  stores." 

There  were  numerous  odds  and    ends   to   do  about 


lJ()AT-l!l'iM)IN<;    AT    LAKl-:    LINDKUMAN. 


113 


till!  t';mi[),  iuul  if  was  not  until  al'liT  diiiiu'i-  tliat  thcv 
slariud  into  tiic  tiiulu'r  to  select  some  wood  wliieli 
might  be  used  in  boal-buildinuf.  It  was  now  tliat 
the  boys'  knowledge  of  timber  stood  them  in  good 
stead  ;  and  it  took  but  a  slioi't  while  to  |)iek  out  a 
tree  which  was  close-graincMl  and  comparatively  Tree 
from  knots.  They  had  l)rouglit  their  axes  with  them, 
and  had  the  tree  down  in  short  order,  'rhen  they 
lopped  oiY  the  branches  and  cut  oil"  the  t(tp,  and  left 
it  in  the  sun  to  dry  out  as  much  as  [tossible  before 
atta('king  it  with  their  boat -building  tools. 

This  accom[)lished,  l'2arl  and  Kandy  set  off,  the 
former  with  the  shot-gun  and  the  othei'  with  his  pis- 
tol, to  stii"  up  whatever  might  b(^  around  in  the  way 
of  game.  Thev  followed  the  vdirv.  of  the  cliff  to 
where  it  slo|)ed  down  to  the  lake  shore. 

l*resentlv  Kai'l  thought  he  saw  something  in  the 
brush  along  the  water  front,  and,  taking  up  a  half- 
decayed  stick,  he  threw  it  at  the  spot.  At  once 
there  was  a  s(piawk,  and  half  a  dozc^n  wild  geese 
arose  in  the  air.  liang!  went  the  shot-gun,  and 
crack!  went  Randy's  [)istol,  and  three  of  the  geese 
were  seen  to  throw  back  their  heads  and  sink. 

"  We  hit  'em  !  "  cried  Randy,  and  ran  down,  fol- 
lowed by  his  brother.  Two  of  the  fowls  were  dead, 
and  the  other  w^as  speedily  j)ut  t)ut  of  its  misery  by 
Karl  with  a  blow  from  the  gun-stock.  They  had 
been  cautioned  not  to  waste  their  ammunition,  so  had 


'•tl 

■41 


'i 


Ih 


1i 


,  i 


114 


TO    ALASKA    KCJII    (JO LI). 


not  Ventured  u  second  round  ill  tlic  halant'u  of  tlie 
Hock. 

"  Tliese  oiiL;!it  to  miil<c  good  uiitiiiL(,"  observed 
Kandy,  as  he  picked  up  the  ^auie.  ^  Tliat  is,  if 
they  (h)n't  taste  too  lishy.  Ilei'e  is  my  buHet  hole, 
riij^ht  tln'ou,i»'li  tlie  neck.      You  killed  the  other  two." 

With  tlie  dead  i>eese  over  their  shoulders,  they  con- 
tinued their  hunt  for  game,  and  presently  stirred  up 
a  nnnd)er  of  wild  birds,  at  which  Earl  blazed  away, 
l)ringing  down  live.  The  birds  were  small  and  hardly 
worth  the  trouble  of  cleaning  and  cooking,  yet  they 
took  them  along. 

"  Geese,  eh  ?  "  exclaimed  Captain  Zoss,  as  they  en- 
tered camp.  '*  Wall,  that's  not  so  bad !  We  kin 
have  a  goose  pot-pie  o'  one,  and  stuff  the  other  with 
bread  an'  beans,  eh  ?  *"  All  hands  agreed  this  would 
be  an  excellent  plan,  and  the  boys  set  about  clean- 
ing the  game  without  delay,  the  captain  assisting  them 
at  the  work. 

Toward  night  they  espied  a  band  of  Indians  coming 
down  the  trail  with  their  packs  and  followed  by  half 
a  dozen  miners,  a  hardy  but  not  an  evil-looking  crowd. 
The  miners  had  left  Dyea  twenty-four  hours  later  than 
themselves  and  had  brouccht  witir  them  the  material  for 
a  flat-bottomed  scow,  fifteen  feet  long  and  four  feet 
wide.  The  Indians  had  carried  this  material  over  the 
Pass,  but  how  it  had  been  accomplished  was  a  mystery 
to  the  boys  and  the  others. 


HOAT-IU   IMHN(i    ON     I.AKK    IJNhKltMAN, 


115 


'*II;niu"  iiic,  if   I  don't  rt'ckoii  tlit'v  Iiuvc  ii  scci'i't  wiiy 


u 


tlii'ir  (twn,""    was  ('aptaiii    Zoss's  coimiiciil. 


ri 


lev 


(M)iil(lii't  carl  tlu'iii  hoards  (i|)  lliat  steep  ttlilT,  iioliow  ! 
And  Handy  and  I'^arl  wfie  liall"  indiniMl  to  Ik'Ucvu  tlu' 
captain's  sus])i('ions  to  In'  trnc. 

Tliu  miners,  who  went  l)V  the;  name  of  tlie  I(hdio 
crowd,  heeanse  they  eanie  Ironi  tiiat  State,  encamped 
next  to  the  (h)ctor's  crowd,  as  tliey  were  sjieedily 
termed,  on  account  of  having  a  medical  man  witli 
them,  and  all  became  well  acquainted  before  night. 
The  Idaho  crowd  had  just  heard  of  an  extra  large 
Ihid  being  made  on  (Johl  liottom  Creek,  which  flowed 
into  the  Klondike  River,  and  they  were  anxious  to  ijfet 
up  there  without  delay,  and  conse([uently  spent  half 
the  night  in  putting  their  boat  together  Tor  an  early 
start  on  the  followiiiir  nu)rning. 


*'  You're  the  fust  boys  I've  lieerd  tell  on  bouiul  for 
the  gold  diggin's,"  vsaid  one  of  the  men  to  Handy  ami 
Earl.  "I'm  afeard  ye'll  tind  it  kinder  tough  luck,  for 
as  far  ez  1  kin  understand  it  is  tough  even  ou  a  man. 
Whar  are  ye  from?     Calif orny  ?  " 

"No,  from  the  backwoods  of  iMaine,"  answered  Earl. 


And 


we  are  used  to  roughing  it 


"  (xee  shoo  !  l^idn't  know  the  news  had  struck  out 
so  all-lired  far  ez  thet.  Wall,  if  yt)u're  from  the  back- 
woods, 'tain't  likely  you'll  suffer  ez  nuu'h  ez  some  of 
the  tenderfoots  wot's  older.  Wish  ye  the  best  o'  liu'k." 
And  the  man  turned  away  to  his  boat-building  again. 


{!gr: 


m 


IIG 


Vit    ALASKA    I'Oll   (lOM). 


Ki,u;lit  o'(il()('k  of  (lu^  tollowiiiijf  moriiiiiLj  fouiid  tlio 
Idiiiio  crowd  mi  its  way  down  liukc  liindcniiaii.  In 
(lie  meantime  [\\v  hoys,  l'\)ster  I'oitiiey,  ami  (-aptaiii 
Zoss  Itad  started  into  the  timluT  witli  tlieir  tools,  h^av- 
iiiLf  Dr.  Ihirwaitht^  to  wateli  e;im|>  and  l)al\e  several 
days'  sui)i)ly  t»t'  hnnid  and  hiseiiits,  and  also  to  parhoil 
some  heans  ioi-  hakini;". 

Th.  tree  seleetiMl  for  cntlinL''  nj)  had  heiMi  allowed 
to  I'all  over  a  larL,a>  Hat  loek,  and  now  the  lirst  woik 
was  to  [)ro[)  np  tlu^  lower  end.  This  done,  hoth  ends 
were  sawed  oil'  even  and  a  i^ood  portion  of  the  hark 
was  sealed  oi'l".  Then  Ivirl  and  Uandy  sharptiiied  nj) 
several  wedges  and  tri(Ml  theii-  hands  at  splitting'  np 
the  trnnk   into  a  snitahio  si/A!   lor  whi^jsawini;". 

Tliis  was  no  liu'ht  work,  and  had  they  not  had  a 
knowledn-e  of  wooderaft  it  would  have  heen  next  to 
im[K)ssil)le  to  do  what  tlu^  lads,  aidiul  hy  their  unele 
and  the  ea[)tain,  aeeomidished.  IJy  ninhtfall  the  trei; 
was  split  and  sawed  up  into  more  than  a  do/en  shd)s, 
of  varying  thiekncss,  and  these  were  Uiid  out  for 
workintj^  up  in  the  morning. 

When  the  party  returned  to  the  edge  of  the  hdu; 
they  found  th;tt  three  el  her  crowds  had  come  in  ovi^r 
the  Pass,  and  there  was  quite  a  settlement  of  tents 
alongshore.  In  one  of  the  parties  there  was  a  young 
woman,  the  wife  of  a  prospector,  wlio  had  stood  the 
arduous  elimb  nearly  as  well  as  any  one. 

"  llullo,  Portney  !  "  suddenly  cried  a  voice  to  Earl, 


nOAT-IU'Il.lUNd    ON    KAKK    UN  DKIIM  AN.  117 

US  he  WHS  \Viilkiii<,^  Jiiouiid  iiiixuiL^  (liu  Iciits.      "  I  didn't 
know  you  had  ^'ol  lliiH  far." 

hurl  tiiriHid  Hwiltly,  and  was  nnarly  (hinifoundrMl 
to  lind  liiinsclf  confronted  l>y  Tom  Poland,  wliilo 
rlaHpor  (iuai'dlcy  stood  hut  a  low   lout  away. 


s 


Mi 


1: 


I 


CHAPTER   XV. 


ON   TO   LAKE   BENNETT. 


The  face  of  Toin  Roland  wore  a  smile,  but  in  his 
eyes  was  an  anxious  look  which  Earl  did  not  fail  to 
notice  as  he  surveyed  the  two  acquaintances  from 
Hasco.  The  young  prospector  was  much  taken  aback 
by  this  !5udden  appearance,  for  he  had  not  dreamed  of 
meeting  Roland  and  Guardley  in  this  out-of-the-way 
spot. 

"Ain't  3"ou  glad  to  see  a  feller  from  Maine?"  went 
on  Roland,  as  Earl  did  not  speak ;  and  he  held  out  his 
hand,  which  the  youth  took  rather  coldly.  Guardley 
had  come  up  to  shake  hands  too,  but  now  he  did  not 
risk  making  the  offer. 

"Are  you  tv.o  bound  for  the  Klondike?"  at  length 
asked  Earl. 

"•  Of  course,"  was  Roland's  sharp  reply.  "  What 
else  would  we  be  doing  up  here  ?  " 

"What  started  you  —  the  fact  that  we  were  going?" 

"Well,  I  allow  as  that  had  a  little  to  do  with  it, 
Earl  ;  but  Guardley  got  a  letter  from  a  friend  of  his 
who  is  up  there  now  —  a  man  named   Stephens.     He 

118 


ON   TO    LAKIO    BENNKTT. 


119 


said  Guiirdley  ought  to  come  \\[)  at  once,  and  as  he 
didn't  want  to  go  ahjne,  I  came  along.  How  are  you 
makinfif  (mt?'' 

"We  arc  (h)ing  very  w^ell." 

"You  and  your  brother  came  on  with  your  uncle, 
didn't  you  ?  " 

"Yen." 

"Any  others  in  the  party?" 

"  Yes  ;   two  men." 

Tom  UohvUcrs  eyes  drop])ed  for  a  moment.  "Me 
and  (xuardley  luive  been  havin'  rather  a  hard  road  of 
it,  all  alone,"  he  went  on.  "  We've  been  thinking  of 
joining  forces  with  somebody." 

"^Yell,  our  cjowd  is  complete,"  answered  Earl, 
quickly. 

"  Then  you  won't  consider  taking  in  two  more,  pro- 
viding, of  course,  w^e  do  our  share  of  work  and  pay  our 
share  of  the  expenses." 

"I  don't  think  so,  Koland." 

"  Who  is  at  the  head  of  your  party  ?  " 

"Nobody  in  particular;  we  all  work  together." 

"Maybe  you  had  better  speak  to  the  boy's  uncle," 
put  in  Guiirdley.     "Come  on.*' 

He  stalked  olf,  and  after  some  slight  hesitation  Tom 
Roland  followed,  witli  Earl  at  his  side.  Foster  Port- 
ney  was  found  mending  a  corner  of  the  tent,  which  had 
become  torn  in  jjacking.  Randy  was  beside  him  and 
uttered  a  cry  when  he  beheld  the  two  men  from  Basco. 


m 


i:v| 


■1 

.3! 


i 


;.    'i 


.»!■ 


\Hj    ^ 


120 


TO    ALASKA    K()R   f.OLD. 


'"•Tom  Roland  Jind  Jasper  (xuardloy  !  "  lie  whispered 
to  his  uncle.  "  Tliosc^  are  the  fellows  we  thought  got 
that  money  on  a  false  identilication !  " 

"Is  that  so?"  returned  Foster  Portney.  "What 
can  Earl  be  hrinofinc^  them  here  for*^  ' 

"This  is  Mr.  Portney,  I  take  it,"  said  Guardley,  after 
clearing  his  throat  awkwardly.    "I  was  thinking — " 

"  Me  and  his  friend  want  to  join  us,"  put  in  Earl. 
"1  told  them  that  our  party  was  complete. " 

"IIullo,     Handy!"     broke     in     Roland,    carelexlv 
"  YouM    like   us    to  come  into  your  crowd,  wcn;) 
you?" 

Randy  was  staggered  at  the  request,  coming  so  un- 
expectedly. Me  glanced  at  I^^arl  before  replying. 
"No,   I  guess  not,"  he  said. 

"  Why,  what's  the  matter  with  you  ?  "  cried  Roland, 
lialf  angrily.  "We  are  all  Maine  folks,  and  friends 
oui^ht  to  stick  together,  seems  to  me." 

Me  turned  to  Foster  Portney  and  introduced  him- 
self and  (luardle ;,',  and  stated  his  case,  adding  thtit  he 
and  his  companion  only  wanted  to  join  some  party 
until  Dawson  City  was  reached.  Mr.  Portney  listened 
quietly,  and  then  turned  to  Captain  Zoss,  who  stood 
near. 

''I  don't  believe  we  want  any  more  in  oar  crowd,  do 
you  ?  " 

"I  reckon  we've  got  a-})lenty,"  was  the  c-  i!'in's 
answer.      "Still,   if  they  are  friends  to  the  l)oys  — " 


:)arty 
uied 
jtood 


in's 


I 


ON   TO   LAKE   nr.NNETT. 


121 


"  But  they  are  not,"  wliispcred  Earl.  "  And  what  is 
more,  we  consider  tiieiu  doubtful  characters." 

''Then  we  don't  want  'em,  nohow." 

"T)iis  camp  is  full,"  came  from  inside,  where  Dr. 
Harwaithe  sat,  examinhig  his  sore  foot,  whicli  was 
neither  better  nor  worse.  "  That  boat  we  are  build- 
ing won't  hold  more  than  five  people,  along  with  our 
outfits." 

The  faces  of  both  lloland  and  Guardley  grew  dark. 
"  All  right ;  if  you  don't  want  us,  we'll  hook  fast  sorae- 
whei'e  else,"  muttered  lloland,  and  turned  on  his  heel. 

"  Maybe  you'll  regret  throwing  us  off  some  day," 
came  from  (Juardley,  as  he  passed  Earl  ;  and  then  the 
two  men  were  lost  to  sight  among  the  tents  up  the 
lake  shore. 

"  Oil,  what  cheek  !  "  burst  from  Randy,,  when  they 
were  gone.  "  I  wouldn't  have  lloland  in  the  party  for 
a  farm." 

"  I'd  be  afraid  of  Guardley's  stealing  everything  we 
had,"  said  Earl.  ''•  As  if  we  didn't  know  ids  real  char- 
acter, and  that  he  had  been  up  before  Judge  Dobson 
lots  of  times  !  " 

"  I  reckon  they'll  stanJ  watching,  especially  that  last 
cur  —  from  what  lie  said  to  Randy,"  said  Captain  Zoss. 
"  He's  got  a  bad  eye,  ho  has,  eh?  " 

All  hands  slept  soundly  after  their  hard  day's  work 
in  the  timber,  and  it  was  not  until  they  heard  others 
stirring  in  the  morning  that  they  arose.     As  he  was 


•ii 


t*  l> 


r    ■ 


122 


TO    ALASK'A    KOI?    OOM). 


not  workinjr  on  the  I)OJi(,  Dr.  l{jir\vjiillie  look  it  upon 
himsolf  to  perform  the  "  houseliold  duticH,"  as  ]w. 
expressed  it,  €and  soon  a  well-cooked  breakfast  was 
arranged  on  a  rude  table  Captain  Zoss  had  stuck  up. 
The  doctor  was  an  excellent  cook,  and  Foster  Portney 
could  not  lielp  but  ask  him  whence  his  knowledge  had 
been  derived. 

"  It's  easily  explained,"  said  the  doctor.  "  I  have  an 
older  si  ^■"  '  dio  was  once  tlie  head  of  a  cooking  school 
in  Montrc  She  insisted  on  it  that  every  one  siiould 
know  how  to  cook,  especially  a  bachelor  like  myself, 
and  she  used  to  deliver  lier  lectures  to  me,  at  home, 
before  delivering  them  at  the  school.  1  believe  I  was 
an  apt  pupil,  but  1  never  dreamed  at  that  time  of  how 
useful  tlie  knowledcre  would  become." 

"  Which  goes  for  to  prove  a  feller  can't  know  too 
much,"  remarked  Captain  Zoss.  "  But  come  on,"  he 
added,  draining  off  his  big  tin  cup  of  coffee,  and 
springing  up.  "That  ere  boat  ain't  going  to  build 
itself."  And  off  he  hurrieil  for  the  woods,  carrying  all 
of  the  tools  he  could  carry.  In  a  moment  \h.e  boys  and 
Foster  Portney  followed  him. 

They  found  the  rough  slabs  of  lumber  as  they  had 
left  them,  and  sticking  them  up  in  convenient  places, 
began  the  task  of  smoothing  them  off  into  boards,  work- 
ing first  with  their  axes  and  then  with  t\\d  drawing- 
knife  and  the  plane.  It  was  no  light  labor,  and  night 
was  again  upon  them  by  the  time  the  boards  were  ready 


ON    TO    LAKK    lUCNNI-yrT. 


1  "''i 


had 

)laces, 

work- 

wing- 

niglit 

ready 


and  lianliid  to  tin;  odi^e  of  tlu;  lake.  After  supper  Fos- 
ter Portiiey  broiiL,dit  out  a  measuring-rule  Jind  niark(!(l 
off  tlie  (lifTerent  parts  of  the  boat,  wliieli  was  to  he  a 
flat-hottoni  affair,  with  a  blunt  stern  and  rather  a  long- 
pointed  how. 

Anotlier  day  at  Lake  Lindernian  saw  the  eraft  put 
together,  false  bottom,  seats,  and  all.  It  was  a  clumsy 
affair,  and  they  were  glad  that  they  had  enough  oakum 
and  pitch  along  to  make  her  fairly  water-tight.  The 
other  parties  in  camp  were  also  boat-building,  and  the 
scene  in  the  clear  and  fairly  warm  weather  was  a  busy 
one. 

Randy  had  cut  down  a  small,  straight  tree  for  a 
mast,  and  this  was  easily  set  in  place  and  held  by 
guards  running  across  from  one  gunwale  to  another. 
The  yard  and  the  boom  of  this  mast  were  primitive 
affairs,  to  be  put  up  whenever  desired. 

As  soon  as  the  pitch  had  hardened,  preparations  for 
leaving  the  camp  were  made.  All  the  goods  and  tools 
were  packed  up  into  the  smallest  possible  space,  and 
stored  on  board  of  the  Wild  Goose,  as  Handy  had  chris- 
tened the  craft,  the  eatables,  clothing,  and  blankets 
being  placed  on  top,  so  as  not  to  ])e  injured  by  the 
water  which  might  get  in.  The  last  thing  to  be  taken 
down  was  the  tent,  the  fly  of  which  was  then  adjusted 
for  a  sail. 

"  All  aboard  I  "  cried  Randy,  as  he  leaped  into  the 
bow,  with  Earl  behind  him.      Captain  Zoss  followed 


■•fit 


i 

} 

i- 

'i 


124 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   (iOLD. 


ii   . 


*'    . 


I   ! 


I  ; 


'ii    I 


them,  to  help  keep  ii  lookout  ahead,  Avhile  I\Ir.  Portney 
and  Dr.  Barwaithe  took  phices  in  tlie  stern,  one  to 
manage  the  rudder  and  the  other  with  an  oar  ready 
for  use,  should  they  run  upon  a  bar  or  mud-flat. 

Lake  Linderman  is  but  a  few  miles  long,  lying  in  the 
midst  of  snow-clad  mountains,  similar  to  those  left  be- 
liind,  although  not  quite  so  liigh.  At  its  lower  end  it 
connects  with  Lake  liennett  by  a  short  river  where  are 
situated  the  Homan  Rapids.  Tliese  rapids  are  among 
the  most  dangerous  encountered  in  sailing  along  the 
headwaters  of  the  Yukon,  and  are  feared  more  by  some 
miners  than  are  the  famous  Wliite  Horse  Kapids,  which 
the  party  must  pass  through  later  on.  To  avoid  the 
Homan  Rapids  many  miners  travelled  straight  from 
Chilkoot  Pass  to  Lake  IJennett  before  stop2)ing  to  build 
their  boats. 

But  it  V  :is  all  new  territory  to  our  party,  for  even 
Foster  Portney,  in  his  previous  trip  to  Alaska,  had  not 
passed  in  this  directicm.  A  stiff  breeze  sent  them  on 
their  way  down  Lake  Linderman,  and  all  expressed 
themselves  as  well  satisfied  with  the  sailing  qualities  of 
the  Wild  Goose. 

"We're  coming  to  the  end  of  the  lake,"  observed 
Earl,  when  scarcely  an  hour  had  passed.  "  There  is 
the  river,  over  to  the  right." 

In  a  few  minutes  n\ore  the  sail  was  lowered,  and  they 
came  to  anchor  at  the  mouth  of  the  river.  The  water 
at  this  point  was  smooth  enough,  but  some  distance 


ortney 
one  to 

ready 
at. 

in  the 
eft  be- 

end  it 
ere  are 

among 
>ng  the 
)y  some 
1,  which 
oid  the 
lit  from 
to  build 

or  even 
ad  not 
lem  on 
)ressed 
ities  of 

bserved 
'here  is 

nd  they 
e  water 
listance 


'TnK  Waikr  was  Boii.inc;  on   E\kkv  Sikk."  —  Paire  13=^. 


1 


II 


ON   TO   LAKE    IlENNKXT. 


12; 


.) 


alieatl  could  be  seen  tlie  leapiiii^  and  s\virliii<r  wliitecaps 
of  the  rapids  leadiiii^  to  the  hdve  l)eh)\v. 

"I  reckon  we'll  have  to  take  a  line  ashore  and  haul 
her  through,"  observed  C'aptain  /oss,  al'ier  an  exami- 
nation of  the  situation.  "  We  don't  want  to  run  no 
risk  of  bein'  upsot  so  early  in  the  game." 

This  was  agreed  to,  and  the  captain  and  I)r, 
Barwaithe  took  one  line  to  the  left  shore  and  Foster 
Portney  and  Randy  another  to  the  right,  leaving  Earl 
to  steer  or  use  the  rudder,  as  might  be  best. 

Some  loose  1.5,  lloating  along  the  lake  shores,  liiid 
partly  choked  the  stream,  but  there  was  a  eleai*  i)laee 
near  the  centre,  and  into  this  the  Wild  Goose  drifted. 
It  was  not  long  before  she  was  caught  in  the  strong 
current,  which  sent  the  ice  cakes  crunching  and  bang- 
ing along  her  sides  and  the  spray  Hying  up  into  Earl's 
face.  He  had  started  to  use  the  rudder,  but  now  saw 
this  was  useless,  and  sprang  forward  with  the  long  oar. 

"  Steady  to  the  left !  Not  to  the  right !  Swing  her 
around  a  bit,  you  fellows  over  there !  Easy  now, 
easy !  Shove  off  from  that  rock.  Earl !  Now  then, 
let  her  down  a  few  feet !  That  was  a  narrow  shave, 
boys  !  There  you  go  again !  Steady  now  !  steady  I 
steady !  " 

So  the  cries  and  directions  ran  on,  as  the  boat  pro- 
ceeded on  her  perilous  voyage.  The  water  was  boiling 
on  every  side,  and  the  lines  which  held  the  craft  were 
as  tight  as  whipcords.     Considerable  water  had  been 


ill 


I 


126 


TO    ALASKA    KOR   (JOLD. 


shipped,  and  Kail  wa.s  wut  from  IknkI  to  foot.  liiii  'le 
kept  his  phice  and  slioved  ol'f,  tliis  way  and  that,  witli 
niiji^ht  and  main. 

"  Hold  hard !  "  suddenly  shouted  Foster  Portney. 
"  Look  out,  Earl ;    tlie  line  is  going  to  break !  " 

The  words  were  hardly  spoken  when  snap !  went 
the  line,  the  boat  end  hitting  Karl  a  sharp  crack  in  tlie 
neck.  Thus  released,  tlie  Wild  Goose  swung  around 
and  made  straight  for  a  series  of  rocks  which  all  had 
been  working  hard  to  avoid.  Should  she  strike  she 
would  become  a  total  wreck,  beyond  a  doubt,  and  all 
their  outfits  would  be  lost. 


H- 


■ 


t  ae 
with 

iiey. 

^veiit 
1  the 

DUlld 

had 
I  she 
d  all 


t 
]# 


CIIAI'TEU   XVI. 

AN   p:XCITIN(i    NKHIT    IN   CAMP. 

When  the  line  parted,  Foster  Portney  and  Randy 
were  thrown  Hat  on  tiiuir  hacks  in  the  six  inches  of 
slush  and  water  in  which  they  had  heen  wading  along 
the  edge  of  the  rapids.  JUit  they  did  not  care  for  this, 
the  one  thought  of  both  was  of  Earl  and  how  the  boat 
would  fare  now  that  there  was  only  one  line  by  which 
to  guide  her. 

As  for  Earl,  the  shock  also  caused  him  to  lose  his 
balance,  and  he  went  down  heavily  on  one  of  the  packs 
with  which  the  Wild  Goose  was  freighted.  But  he  re- 
covered instantly,  and  sprang  to  the  bow,  oar  in  hand. 
The  craft  had  swung  around,  as  has  been  related,  and 
was  on  the  point  of  smashing  on  the  rocks  when  he 
put  out  the  oar  and  tried  to  sheer  off. 

"  Hold  her  !  hold  her !  "  roared  Captcain  Zoss  to 
Earl.  ''Tnke  the  line,  but  don't  iviH  ! "  he  added  to 
the  doctor,  and  the  next  instant  iio  was  in  the  icy 
water  up  to  his  waist.  He  could  not  reach  the  bow  of 
the  boat,  but  he  gained  the  stern,  and  catching  hold  of 
the  rudder  he  swung  the  Wild  Goose  in  toward  a  rock 
and  held  her  there. 

127 


pis 


It 


9* 


hi 


ii :?  ? 


ill  •<  1 1 


128 


TO    ALASKA    Foil    (!OLI). 


"Throw  ilie  broken  lino  to  Karl  and  let  liini  tie  it, 
quick !  "  he  shouted  to  Foster  I'ortney  ;  but  tlie  broken 
line  was  floating  amid  the  loose  ice,  and  it  was  several 
seconds  before  it  could  be  secured.  In  that  time  the 
current  again  caught  the  boat  from  another  direction, 
and  sheering  along  the  rocks  in  front,  the  craft  made  a 
wild  plunge  ahead  and  downward,  dragging  the  cap- 
tain in  her  wake. 

"Earl  will  be  killed!  "  groaned  Handy,  and  his  heart 
leaped  into  his  throat  as  the  Wild  Groose  seemed  swal- 
lowed up  in  the  foaming  and  boiling  waters  below 
them.  His  uncle  did  not  reply,  but  darted  out  of  the 
water  and  down  the  bank  of  the  river  as  fast  as  his  feet 
could  carry  him.  Dr.  Barwaithe,  who  had  been 
pelled  to  let  go  the  line  in  order  to  save  himself,  was 
also  running,  and  now  Randy  likewise  took  to  his 
heels. 

Fortunately  for  Earl  he  kept  his  wits  about  him, 
even  though  he  realized  the  great  peril  he  was  in.  In 
previous  years  he  had  helped  raft  lumber  in  Maine 
during  the  spring  freshets,  so  that  the  situation  was 
not  such  a  novel  one.  But  there  was  a  vast  difference 
between  steering  logs  which  could  not  be  harmed  and 
navigating  a  boat  loaded  with  all  their  possessions,  and 
he  felt  the  responsibility,  lie  clung  to  the  long  oar 
and  used  it  as  best  he  could,  whenever  the  opportunity 
offered,  which  was  not  often. 

In  less  than  ten  minutes  the  ride  was  over  and  the 


I 


A 


AN    EXriTINd    NKillT    IN    ('AM1». 


129 


IVild  Goose  sliol  witli  ii  swish  into  I/iko  IW'iiiu'tt.  I>y 
tliis  tinu!  Ciiptiiiii  Zoss  liiul  imiiiant'(l  l(>  iriiwl  on  boar;' 
and  givo  Earl  a  lu'lpin!^  hand.  Tlie  craft  hail  struck 
a  dozen  times,  twice  ratlusr  sliar[)ly,  hut  heyond  a 
scrapin<jf  on  one  side  and  a  Hli<4ht  cra(!k  in  the  how, 
which  was  speedily  caulked  up,  she  escaped  injury. 
The  two  on  hoard  ran  to  one  shore,  to  take  Dr. 
Barwaithe  on  hoard,  and  then  stood  over  to  where  Mr. 
Portney  and  Handy  awaited  them. 

"  That  was  a  providential  escape  I "  were  Foster 
Portney's  words,  when  he  saw  that  ICarl  was  safe. 
"  I  wouldn't  have  you  run  such  a  risk  again  for  a 
fortune !  " 

*'  And  1  don't  want  to  run  such  a  risk  again,"  replied 
Earl,  with  rather  a  sickly  smile.  I  le  was  greatly  shaken 
up,  and  it  was  a  long  while  before  he  felt  like  himself. 
Randy  could  hardly  keep  from  hugging  his  brother 
because  of  the  escajje. 

"  It  was  a  fool  move  of  ours  from  the  start,"  said 
Captain  Zoss,  speaking  plainly,  for  the  icy  bath  had 
not  improved  his  temper.  "•  We  should  have  packed 
our  outfits  along  the  river  and  let  the  boat  take  care 
of  herself,  with  plenty  of  lines  to  guide  lier.  1  won't 
stand  fer  any  such  move  as  that  ag'in  ;  not  much,  eh  ?  " 

"  You  are  right,  captain,"  said  Foster  Portney, 
gravely.     "  We'll  be  more  cautious  in  the  future." 

"  Yes  !  yes  !  "  broke  in  the  doctor.  "  What  should 
we  have  done  had  this  young  man  been  killed  and  all 


^ 


i 


f«.  *' 


hi 


11 


'0d 


130 


TO    ALASKA    FOR   GOLD. 


our  traps  been  lost?  It  would  liave  been  l)etter  to 
have  carried  boat  and  all  around  fiuni  one  lake  to 
the  next." 

It  was  a  sober  party  which  went  into  camp  that 
night  on  the  rather  rocky  shore  of  Lake  Bennett,  sober 
and  ratlier  out  of  sortie  in  the  bargain.  The  captain 
insisted  on  building  an  immense  lire,  and  while  he  sat 
drying  himself  by  it  he  found  fault  with  everything 
wlvich  came  into  view.  Later  on  the  others  of  the 
crowd  found,  that  tiie  captain  got  these  moods  every 
once  in  a  while  and  never  meant  all  he  said,  but  now 
they  did  not  know  this  and  it  made  the  two  boys,  at 
least,  unhappy. 

"Might  have  knowed  it,"  grumbled  Captain  Zoss, 
"  with  two  kids  along,  instead  o'  nothing  but  growed- 
up  men  as  know  their  business.  The  next  time  I  jine 
a  crowd  it  will  be  o'  those  as  has  at  least  voted,  eh  ?  " 

"  I  can't  agree  with  you  that  it  was  the  boys'  fault," 
replied  Dr.  Barwaithe.  "The  line  broke,  and  that 
started  the  whole  thing." 

"  Well,  boys  is  boys,  and  men  wouldn't  have  let  sech 
a  thing  happen !  "  snapped  the  captain.  "  See  yere, 
I  want  my  coffee  hot !  "  he  roared  to  Randy,  who 
was  preparing  supper.  "No  lukewarm  dishwater  fer 
me,  eh  ?  " 

"  I'll  give  it  to  }  ou  as  hot  as  the  fire  will  make  it ;  I 
can't  do  any  more,"  was  Randy's  short  answer.  He  was 
as  much  out  of  sorts  as  any  one.     Then  the  captain 


AN  i<:x('iTiN(;  ni(;ht  in  camp. 


131 


tii'Mit'd  to  Earl,  and  found  fault  with  tliu  timber  in  the 
l)out ;  and  \)\  the  time  they  sat  down  tu  eat,  all  .elt 
thoioughly  put  out. 

The  tloetor  tried  to  eidiven  matters  by  relating  some 
of  his  experiences  in  colh'ge,  and  he  even  gave  them  a 
Sony'  or  two,  for  he  \\'as  a  Lj^-ood  sintfer  with  a  sweet 
tenor  voice.  All  enjoyed  the  singing,  but  the  captain 
looked  as  glum  as  ever. 

"I'm  sorry  we've  got  that  old  curmudgeon  along," 
said  Earl,  as  he  and  Jiandy  turned  in  togetlier,  on  the 
rubber  blanket.  *'  (Jracious,  1  never  imagined  he  could 
be  so  disagreeable  I  " 

"•  Nor  1,"  gruml)led  his  ])rother.  "  And  to  think  that 
we  have  got  to  put  up  with  hiiU  until  we  reach  the  gold 
diggings !  " 

"i'he  tent  had  been  pitched  in  the  shelter  of  a  number 
of  liigh  rocks  and  at  some  distance  fi'om  the  lake  front. 
The  Wild  Goose  rested  in  a  tiny  cove,  secured  by  a 
painter  attached  to  a  stake  driven  deeply  into  the 
sandy  sliore.  There  was  a  little  swell  on  the  water, 
caused  by  the  rising  wind,  Ijut  no  one  supposed  this 
would  prove  suflicient  to  do  the  craft  any  harm. 

As  they  expected  to  remain  in  that  camp  but  one 
night  only,  a  single  tent  hao  been  erected  for  the  entire 
party,  so  all  hands  were  'i addled  closely  together.  It 
was  not  long  before  they  were  all  asleep. 

When  Earl  awoke  it  was  still  dark.  He  roused  up 
with  a  start,  to  iind  the  wind  blowing  violently.     Out- 


■n 


I:,, 


ti 


132 


TO    ALASKA    KOli   (KHJ). 


s\do  it  was  raiiiinij^  and  Hiiowiiii:^  loLTctluT,  and  it  was 
sonui  snow  on  Ids  laci^  wldcli  had  cansed  iuin  to  u\vai\(!. 
Ilo  was  ah(  ut  to  sjfot  up,  wlicn  Uandy  (gulled  to  him. 

-What's  up?" 

'" 'Phoro's  a  storm  on,  snow  and  rain,  and  I  jMCuess 
we'll  have  to  look  to  the  i'astenings  of  the  tent," 
answ(M'ed  Earl. 

The  talkinijf  awoke  the  others.  The  wind  was  in- 
ereusiuL:^  rapidly,  and  already  the  front  left  ei;d  of  the 
tent  was  llai)i)in«j^  violently,  torn  loos(^  from  its  i)e^<j^ing. 
Karl  donned  his  overet)at.  and  ran  outside  to  hold  it 
down,  while  he  called  to  Kandy  to  bring  the  hanauur 
with  whieh  to  hury  the  l)e<j^s  anew. 

''  Fasten  her  tiij'ht ;  I'll  take  a  look  after  the  boat  !  " 
eried  Ca[)tain  Zoss,  and  ruslunl  off  in  the  darkness, 
followed  by  Foster  l*ortney,  liy  this  time  the  doctoi- 
was  also  out,  and  he  and  the  boys  began  the  task  of 
securing  the  shelter.  A  lieavy  gust  of  wind  came  on, 
ami  in  a  Hash  the  canvas  was  sailing  high  in  the  air, 
held  down  only  by  the  pegs  on  one  side.  To  secure  the 
cloth 


was  no  mean  VvO.k 


and  they  had  to  wait  for  fully 
a  minute  in  the  rain  and  snow,  nntil  the  wi  m1  abated. 
'*  Tliis    is    ueiuix   to  the  ufold  diLTilinffs  with,  a  ven- 


f>j-»' 


eeance,*'  murnnired  Dr.   J'.arwaithe. 


i,i 


A    fellow   could   'most   lly   there   in   this  wind  I 


»» 


panted  ivandy.     ''Earl,  have  you  a  peg  handy? 


»j 


a  one 


Not 

Neither  have  I,  and  it's  as  dark  as  pitch. 


» 


ii 


AN    EX(;iTIN(J    NMJirr    IN    ('AMI'. 


ia:j 


C  of 
on, 
iiir, 
tlu! 


"  \\vr^^  iin^  two  ])('jj^s,"  siiid  llin  (lorlor.  "  F  wonder  if 
I  can  stir  uj>  lliiil,  lire,"  Im'  uddcd,  sl.JirtinLf  to  whore 
llu!  (liiinplini  liiid  IxM^n.  'I'lic  Wvr.  was  out,  and  the  Hhoot- 
iron  s(()V(!  hiy  over  on  its  si<l(',  willi  ii  nicsH  of  Ixian.s 
overinrned  in  tlu!  oven.  To  linlil  ii  im^w  lir(!  nn(h!r  ex- 
isting;' circMunstanees  was  out-  of  tiie  (pKJstion,  and  tlio 
mediciil  nian  W(!iit.  hack  to  i-ssist  \hr.  hoys. 

Tlie  tent  had  hardly  hecni  seenred  when  there  came 
a  great  llnrry  of  snow  whi(;h  almost  hliiided  them. 
Kandy  had  h(H;n  for  rnnniii!^  down  to  tlie  lake,  hnt 
now  lu!  erawhid  nnder  IIk;  eanvas  and  lujsitated.  In 
the  n.eantime  Dr.  I)ai-waith(5  set  ihc!  stove  n[>  onc(;  more 
and  ti'ied  to  rescue  sneh  of  tlu^  Ikniiis  as  w(!re  worth  it. 

"The  rain  is  [^nvinf^  way  to  snow  — "  hegan  Karl, 
whcMi  he  sto])|H!d  shoi't,  as  a  faint  sliont  icaelKid  them 
throiijjfh  the  whistlini(  Avind.  "  It's  IJnclii's  voi(;(;  !  We 
are  wanted  down  there  I  "  1m  inldcd,  and  started  off  on 
a  run.  As  tlie  vvy  wv  re|K!ated  IJaiidy  followed.  A 
minute's  run  and  the\  "'a<'hed  tin  hcaeh  a  liniidred 
feet  above  where  ('aptain  Zoss  and  Foster  I'ortney 
were  standin<*'. 

"  Wliat's  the  matter?"  denumded  lOarl,  (|uicl  ly. 

"The  l)oat  is  p^one,"  was  liis  uncle's  alarnjing  ^eply. 
"She  lias  drifted  off  in  the  storm,  and  we  can't  catch 
sight  of  her  anywhere  !  " 


!f 


H 


I 


'I't 


ciiAPTEii  xvri. 


A   HUNT   FOR   FOOD. 


Randy  and  Earl  were  much  dismayed  by  their 
uncle's  announcement.  Th3  Wild  Goose  had  disap- 
peared !  Where  to  ?  Ah,  that  was  the  question.  In 
vain  they  tried  to  pierce  the  darkness  of  the  night 
and  the  snow-squall.  Nothing  in  the  shape  of  a  craft 
could  be  discerned  upon  the  broad  waters  of  Lake 
Bennett. 

"  I  told  ye  to  mind  how  ye  tied  up  that  yere  craft," 
growled  Captain  Z^^s,  wrathf ully,  to  Earl.  "  Any  lub- 
ber could  have  tied  her  up  better  than  you  did." 

''•  You  expect  me  to  do  everything !  "  retorted  Earl, 
beginning  to  lose  his  temper,  too.  "I  did  the  best  I 
could.     Why  didn't  you  look  after  it  ?  " 

"  He  was  too  busy  taking  it  easy  by  the  fire,"  put  in 
Randy,  bound  to  stand  up  for  his  brother,  as  well  as  to 
put  in  a  "shot"  for  himself. 

"  None  o'  your  impudence,  boy !  "  roared  the  captain, 
and  he  turned  as  if  to  strike  Randy.  Jiut  now  Foster 
Portney  caught  his  arm  and  threw  it  back. 

"  Stop  it,  all  of  you  !  "  said  he.     "  This  is  no  time  vo 

184 


I 


A   HUJ^T   FOR   FOOD. 


135 


quarrel.  Tlie  wind,  and  not  Earl,  is  responsil)le  for 
this,  for  I  looked  to  tlie  tyinsf  up  myself,  after  he  was 
done.  We're  all  out  of  sorts,  but  we  needn't  act  like 
children  over  it.  Our  duty  is  to  lind  the  boat,  and 
that  as  quickly  as  possible." 

"I  reckon  she's  gone  down  tlie  lake,"  j^rumbled  the 
captain,  after  an  awkward  pause.  "The  wind's  that 
way." 

"  We'll  go  down  and  see  if  we  can't  sight  her,"  an- 
swered Foster  Portney. 

Away  they  went  on  a  run.  Earl,  who  was  tall  and 
light  in  weight,  easily  outdistanced  the  rest  and  reached 
a  rocky  cliff,  where  the  lake  made  a  slight  bend.  He 
went  up  the  cliff,  to  stumble  headlong  into  a  narrow 
gulch,  cutting  his  chin  and  his  left  hand.  Picking 
himself  up,  he  started  on,  but  soon  stopped.  "  I  ought 
to  warn  the  others,"  was  liis  though./,  and  he  turned 
and  hurried  back. 

Captain  Zoss  was  ahead  of  the  others  and  was  on  top 
of  the  cliff  when  Earl  shouted  to  him.  "  Stop,  captain, 
stop,  or  you'll  get  hurt !  "  came  at  the  top  of  his  voice, 
and  the  captain  halted  just  in  time  to  save  himself  from 
a  disastrous  fall.  He  climbed  dow^n  the  gulch  and  up 
at  the  other  side,  and  yelled  a  warning  to  those  behind. 
Soon  all  four  stood  upon  another  level  stretch  of  the 
lake  shore. 

Nothing  w\as  to  be  seen  —  that  is,  nothing  but  the 
flying  snowflakes  dropping   into   the  wind-swept   and 


'2 


I      ( 


i   f 
*  I 


136 


TO   ALASKA    FOR   GOLD. 


white-capped  waters  beneath.  Tliey  continued  to  walk 
on,  until  the  cold  chilled  each  to  the  marrow  of  his 
bones. 

"  We  might  as  well  get  back  and  wait  till  morning," 
said  Foster  Portney,  with  a  lieavy  sigh.  "  We  can  do 
nothing  in  the  darkness.  Let  us  hope  the  boat  will 
beach  herself  somewhere  and  remain  right-side  up." 

With  chattering  teetli  they  started  on  the  return. 
Randy  by  his  uncle's  side  and  Earl  behind  Captain 
Zoss.  Half  the  distance  to  the  tent  had  been  covered 
when  the  captain  paused  and  ranged  up  beside  Earl. 

"  Earl,  you  mustn't  mind  me  when  I  git  in  my  tan- 
trums," he  said  jerkily.  "  I  git  'em  every  once  in  a 
while,  see  ?  It's  nateral  with  me  —  allers  was.  But  I 
ain't  bad  at  heart,  an'  I  shan't  forgit  ye  for  savin'  me  a 
dirty  fall,  mark  that !  And  it's  not  your  fault  the  boat 
is  gone  —  anything  would  have  torn  loose  in  this  yere 
gale."  lie  paused  for  a  moment.  "An'  I  didn't  mean 
ter  hit  Randy  —  it's  only  a  way  I  have  ter  frighten 
folks  —  a  poor  way,  too,  as  I  acknowledge.  Come  on." 
And  before  Earl  could  reply  he  was  stalking  on,  his  head 
bent  far  down,  to  keep  the  snow  from  his  eyes.  Earl 
clung  close  to  him,  and  from  that  night  he  and  the  cap- 
tain were  better  friends  than  ever.  Later  on  Randy 
received  a  like  "apology,"  and  when  he  got  to  know 
the  captain  better  voted  him  "  all  right,  though  a  bit 
cranky  at  times." 

Dr.    Barwaithe   was   as   dismayed   as   any   of   them 


A   HUNT   FOR   FOOD. 


137 


had  been,  when  the  news  was  broken  to  him,  but  he 
agreed  that  nothing'  was  to  be  accomplished  wliile  the 
darkness  and  the  storm  lasted.  lie  had  d'-agged  the 
cooking  stove  up  to  the  entrance  to  the  tent  and  was 
trying  to  start  a  fire.  Twice  the  tiny  flames  had  flick- 
ered and  gone  out,  but  now,  fanned  vigorously,  the 
wood  caught,  and  soon  tlie  stove  was  red-hot,  the  top 
spluttering  with  the  snowflakes  which  fell  upon  it.  The 
fire  warmed  the  air  in  the  1  nt,  and  for  the  balance  of 
the  night  the  party  rested  comfortably  in  body  if  not 
in  mind. 

With  the  coming  of  morning  the  storm  abated, 
and  by  eight  o'clock  the  sun  was  struggling  to  shine 
through  the  drifting  clouds.  The  captain,  as  if  to 
atone  for  his  misdeeds,  prepared  breakfast,  giving  to 
Earl  and  Randy  the  best  of  the  flap-jacks  turned  out. 
The  captain  was  a  great  hand  at  these  cakes,  and  the 
party  was  certain  to  get  them  whenever  he  was  cook. 

"  For  all  we  know,  the  boat  may  have  gone  clear 
down  to  the  entrance  to  Tagish  Lake,"  remarked 
Foster  Portney,  while  finishing  the  repast.  "I  see 
nothing  for  us  to  do  but  t )  walk  along  the  lake  shore 
and  keep  our  eyes  open." 

"Shall  we  take  our  traps  along?"  asked  the  doctor. 
"  I  can  carry  the  cook  stove  if  you  can  divide  the  rest 
of  the  stuff  among  you." 

A  short  discussion  followed,  and  feeling  certain  the 
boat  had  gone  down  the  lake,  if  anvAvhere,  it  was  de- 


('"fi 


m 


I  I 


ill 


'J 


li 


138 


TO   ALASKA    FOIl   CJOLl). 


cided  by  all  hands  to  pack  tlie  outfit  and  take  it  along. 
The  packing  took  some  time,  and  when  the  start  was 
made  the  storm  had  cleared  away  entirely,  leaving  the 
sky  as  bright  as  one  could  wish. 

A  mile  of  the  shore  had  been  covered  when  Foster 
Portney  called  a  halt  and  directed  attention  to  an 
object  floating  in  the  direction  from  which  they  had 
come.     "  It's  a  boat !  "  he  cried,  a  moment  later. 

"  Our  boat  ?  "  questioned  Randy,  eagerly. 

"I  can't  say."  Mr.  I'ortney  and  the  others  watched 
the  craft  with  interest.  "No,  it's  not  our  boat,  but 
another,  and  there  are  several  people  on  board." 

"Let's  hail  'em,  and  git  'em  to  search  for  the  Wild 
Goose,"'  said  Captain  Zoss,  and  they  walked  back,  rnd 
after  some  trouble  succeeded  in  attracting  the  attention 
of  the  party  on  the  water.  There  were  three  men  in 
the  boat  and  a  woman,  the  latter  being  the  same  they 
had  met  in  camp  at  Lake  Linderman.  To  all  the  new- 
comers Foster  Portney  told  his  story. 

"  O'  course  we'll  help  you,"  said  the  miner  who  had 
his  wife  on  board.  "  One  o'  you  can  git  aboard  here, 
and  we'll  cruise  around  the  lake  on  a  hunt.  Ain't  got 
room  fer  more  'n  one,"  he  went  on ;  "  and  say,  who's  the 
doctor  among  ye  ?  " 

"  I  am,"  responded  Dr.  Barwaithe. 

"Then  you  might  ez  well  do  the  trick,  fer  Lizy 
here  don't  feel  extry  well,  an'  it  will  be  fair  play  fer 
you  to  give  her  some  medicine,  I  take  it." 


U 


'0. 


i 


i 


A   HUNT  von   r<)01>. 


130 


Wild 


new- 


"  I'll  do  what  I  can  for  her,"  said  the  doctor.  "  Wnt 
most  of  my  medicines  are  on  board  of  the  lost  boat." 

"  Then  we've  got  ter  find  her,  sure  pop,  fer  Lizy 
does  feel  most  distressin'  like,  with  a  pain  in  her  head 
an'  a  crick  in  her  back,"  went  on  Wodley,  the  miner. 

The  doctor  hopped  on  board,  and  after  a  few  words 
more  the  boat  set  off  in  search  of  the  Wild  Goose^  and 
the  liunt  from  the  lake  shore  was  continued.  Slowly 
the  forenoon  wore  away  and  still  nothing  was  seen 
of  the  missing  craft.  The  other  boat  with  the  do(;tor 
had  long  since  been  lost  to  view  up  the  lake. 

It  was  getting  toward  supper  time  when  Foster  Port- 
ney  turned  to  Earl,  who,  in  addition  to  some  of  the 
camping  outfit,  carried  the  shot-gun.  "  I  just  caught 
a  glance  of  something  on  legs  up  among  yonder  rocks," 
he  said.  "If  you  can,  you  might  as  well  knock  it 
over,  for  it  won't  be  long  before  all  of  us  will  want 
something  to  eat." 

Earl  was  glad  enough  to  try  his  hand  at  liunting, 
and  turned  over  his  traps  to  his  companions.  Soon  he 
was  climbing  the  rocks  to  which  his  uncle  had  pointed. 
He  had  not  gone  over  five  hundred  feet  when  he  beheld 
a  small  deer  gazing  at  him  in  alarm.  Before  he  could 
draw  a  bead  on  the  animal  the  deer  was  gone  behind  a 
neighboring  cliff. 

Feeling  moderately  sure  that  this  was  the  animal  his 
uncle  had  seen,  and  that  the  dcoi'  would  not  go  far, 
but  might  even  come  back  out  of  curiosity.  Earl  began 


> 

'I 
■It 

f: 


;' !  ■ 


! 


i;.  I 


140 


TO   ALASKA    KOU   GOLD. 


to  climb  the  cliff.  A  ])rofusion  of  brush  grew  among 
the  rocks,  and  these  afforded  him  a  good  hand-hold, 
and  he  was  soon  at  the  top. 

Altliough  hemmed  in  on  three  sides  by  mountains, 
the  way  to  the  lake  was  clear,  and  looking  in  that  di- 
rection lie  saw,  far  to  the  opposite  shore,  the  boat  con- 
taining Dr.  liarwaithe  and  their  newly  made  friends. 
He  watched  the  boat  for  a  minute,  when  a  clatter  of 
sharp  hoofs  on  the  cliff  made  him  whirl  around,  just  in 
time  to  catcli  a  second  sight  of  the  deer.  His  gun 
came  up  quick  enough  now,  and  the  charge  took  the 
animal  full  in  the  breast. 

Struck  in  tiiis  fashion,  many  an  animal  would  have 
rolled  over  dead.  But  tlie  deer  of  Alaska,  which  are 
growing  more  scarce  every  year,  are  a  sturdy  lot,  and 
though  terribly  wounded,  this  specimen  did  not  drop. 
Staggering  for  a  brief  moment,  he  turned  and  then  fled 
in  the  direction  from  which  he  had  come. 

Earl  was  amazed,  but,  determined  not  to  lose  his 
game  after  such  a  shot,  he  hastily  reloaded  and  made 
after  the  game  Less  than  two  score  of  steps  brought 
him  almost  to  the  end  of  the  cliff,  and  he  discovered  the 
deer  crouched  in  the  shelter  of  the  rocks,  its  dark  eyes 
glaring  angrily.  Up  came  his  gun,  and  the  weapon  was 
discharged  just  as  the  animal  sprang  forward.  The 
shot  was  a  glancing  one,  doing  little  harm,  and  the 
next  instant  the  wounded  beast  was  upon  the  boy. 


CHAPTER     XVIII. 


! 


of 


ON   TO   Till-:    WIIITIO    HOUSE    IJAI'IDS. 

For  a  brief  instant,  as  tlu;  deer  ruslied  upon  him, 
Earl  was  fairly  ])aralyze(l,  liaviiin'  had  no  idea  that  the 
wounded  animal  niinlit  attack  liini.  IJut  as  those  <rlai'- 
ing  eyes  came  closer  and  the  antleis  were  lowered, 
he  realized  that  something'  must  be  done,  and  leaped 
to  the  inner  side  oi"  the  narrow  cliff. 

Crash  !  the  deer  had  struck  him  on  tlie  arm.  It  was 
a  heavy  blow,  and  only  the  sliar[)  rock  to  one  side  of 
him  saved  the  youtli  from  serious  injury.  Then,  as 
the  animal  bounded  back  for  a  second  attack.  Earl 
shoved  out  the  g'un,  pressed  it  at  the  deer's  breast,  and 
sent  the  beast  tundjling  from  the  cliff  into  the  gulch 
below.  It  was  done  so  rapidly  that  the  animal  had  no 
time  to  save  itself.  It  went  down  with  a  crasli  and  a 
dull  thud,  and,  looking  over  the  rocks,  the  boy  saw 
that  it  lay  on  its  back  unable  to  run  off  on  account  of 
a  broken  leg.  As  soon  as  he  could,  lie  reloaded  the 
shot-gun  and  put  his  game  out  of  its  misery. 

"  That  was  a  narrow  escape,  and  no  fooling !  "  he 
lialf  muttered,  as  he  looked  about  for  some  place  where 

141 


•  )■ 


.1 


:!i 


I  ;• 


'm 


is 


'  i 


m 


m 


•n;. 


nil 


V  { 


142 


TO    ALASKA    I'OU   CJOIil). 


ho  might  (UjscuikI  to  tlu3  bottom  of  tlio  <>;iiU;li.  A 
qiiiu'tcr  of  ail  liour  hitur  ha  had  tho  deur  hound  on 
top  of  a  true  branch,  and  was  draj^j^inj^  it  toward  thu 
lake  shore. 

"Atleer!"  cried  Kandy  and  Foster  l*ortney,  simul- 
taneously, as  tliey  caui^lit  siuflit  of  the  [)rize.  "  Well, 
that  was  well  worth  goiiii(  after  I "  continued  the 
latter. 

'•■You  had  a  narrow  escape!"  exclaimed  Randy, 
when  Karl's  story  was  told.  ^'•If  you  hadn't  shoved 
him  over,  he  would  have  <^()rt!(l  you  to  dijath." 

It  was  ({uite  dark  by  the  time  they  went  into  cam[). 
The  deer  was  soon  cut  up,  and  they  dined  that  eveniiiL,^ 
on  the  choi(U!st  of  venis(>n  steak.  Tlu!  remaindei' of  the 
meat  was  hunL>'  up  to  dry,  while  a  portion  of  it  was 
thoroughly  salti'd. 

In  addition  to  the  lire  in  the  cam[)  stove,  a  big  blaze 
was  lit  oil  the  shore,  that  Dr.  iiarwaithe  and  the 
others  might  be  guided  hither  if  they  succeeded  in 
hiiding  the  Wild  Goose.  But  the  night  wore  away 
without  interruption,  and  by  six  o'clock  the  next 
morning  the  searcii  for  the  missing  craft  was  renewed. 

"  We're  most  down  to  Tagisli  Lake,  I  reckon,"  re- 
marked Captain  Zoss.  "  I  don't  believe  the  Wild 
Goose  could  go  through,  'ceptin'  she  was  bottom  side 
up  and  minus  our  traps,  which  I  don't  hope  fer,  eh  ?  " 

The  entrance  to  Tagisli  Lake  was  reached,  and  they 
>vere  specuhM  ing  on   what   to    do  next,   when   Handy 


ON    TO   THIO    Wliri'K    llOliSK    KAl'lDS. 


143 


sIiouIimI,  "''  lliM'iJ  they  conic,  iiiid  they  liiivu  the  Wihl 
Goone  ill  tow  !  " 

His  uimui'ieemeiit  [H'oved  correct,  and  quiirter  of 
Jill  hour  hiter  W'odley  sent  liis  own  craft  up  to  tlie 
bunk  with  a  swisli  tlirou^h  the  water-jrniss  and  tundra, 
or  moss,  wliich  was  now  l)e^'innin<^  to  show  itself  on 
every  side.  The  Wild  Goose  was  eh)SO  behind,  and 
they  noted  with  satisfaction  that  slie  seemed  to  be  in 
the  same  condition  as  thtiy  had  left  her. 

"  We  found  iier  stuck  in  tlie  mud  on  the  other  side," 
announced  Dr.  Barwaitlie.  "  Tlie  wind  had  just  sent 
her  along  and  left  her,  and  the  only  damage  done  is 
to  some  of  the  provisions  whic;  were  soaked  by  the 
rain  and  snow." 

"  We  can  be  thankful  it's  not  worse,"  replied  Foster 
Portney.  ""  If  she  had  not  turned  up,  1  don't  know 
what  we  would  have  done." 

Dr.  Barwaitlie  had  become  well  acquainted  with  the 
party,  and  had  given  Mrs.  Wodley  some  medicine  con- 
taining a  large  quantity  of  cpiinine,  for  tlie  woman  was 
suffering  from  cliills  and  fever,  something  frequently 
met  with  in  Alaska. 

It  did  not  take  long  for  both  parties  to  haul  their 
boats  into  Tagish  Lake,  and  once  on  that  broad  sheet 
of  water,  all  sail  was  set  for  the  six  miles  of  river  which 
connects  that  body  of  water  with  Marsh  Lake,  called 
by  many  Mud  l^ake,  on  account  of  its  shallowness  and 
soft  bottom. 


'\\ 


;^  i  > !' 


:..{;. 


(:' 


I  \-:'^ 


144 


TO    ALASKA    KOli    COLD. 


As  tliey  skiiiinuul  aloni*-,  Karl  n^d  Ivaiidy,  undtT  the 
directions  of  their  iiiHde,  sortetl  over  tiie  provisions, 
putting  aside  for  immediate  use  sueh  as  would  not  keep 
after  being  wet.  'Jliis  had  scarcely  been  linished  when 
the  end  of  Tagish  l^ake  a[)peared  in  sight. 

"  There  is  some  sort  o'  a  camp  ahead,"  announced 
Captain  Zoss.  'vDon't  look  like  er  miner's  strike, 
either.     Injuns,  I'll  bet !  " 

The  captain  was  right.  The  camp  was  a  rude  one, 
consisting  of  half  a  dozen  huls  and  dugouts,  The 
Indians  numbered  about  two  score,  and  they  were  the 
most  disagreeable  Kandy  and  Iv'l  had  yet  beheld. 
Each  was  painted  from  forehead  to  chin  with  greasy 
black  and  red  paint,  and  ail  wore  lilthy  skin  suits 
wdiich  could  be  smelt  ''further  than  yon  could  see 
them,"  according  to  Randy's  notitm.  The  Indians 
tried  to  sell  them  some  fish,  but  the  nuMubers  of  the 
party  declined,  and  pointed  to  the  tleer  meat.  Then 
one  of  the  Indians  begged  Earl  to  let  him  have  the 
deer's  head  and  antlers  for  a  string  of  bcautil'ul  i)ike, 
and  the  youth  made  the  trade;  for  although  he  would 
have  likea  to  keep  the  trophy,  carrying  it  u])  into 
the  gold  regions  was  out  of  the  question.  The  deer 
meat  had  been  divided  with  the  Wodley  party,  and 
now  a  similar  disposition  was  made  of  the  fish. 

The  day  was  fine,  with  Ihe  wind  in  the  right  direc- 
lion,  and  soon  they  e^ine  to  the  end  of  Marsh  Lake, 
which  is  iifteen  miles  long,  and  heavily  fringed  on  all 


f 


1  li 


ON    TO   THE    WllITE    MOUSE    llAl'IDS. 


ur> 


sides  with  tim])L*i'  iiud  bnisli.  On  several  occiisioiis 
tliey  ran  in  Avater  sf)  sliallow  tluiy  were;  in  dani^^er  ol' 
going  aground;  })ut  tlie  sliarp  eyes  of  Captain  Zoss 
saved  tlieni,  and  the  seeond  day  saw  tlieni  en(*ani})ed 
witliin  sight  of  tlie  lifty-niih)  i-iver  which  conneets 
Marsh  Lake  with  Lake  I^abarge,  tlie  hist  of  the  lakes 
they  were  to  traverse  on  the  way  to  the  gold  regions. 

"  By  day  after  to-morrow  we'll  strike  the  White 
IIoss  Rapids,"  said  Captain  Zoss.  ''Then,  I  reckon 
we'll  have  jest  sech  a  time  as  we  had  up  ter  i Ionian 
Kapids." 

"  Kxeuse  me  !  "  rejoined  Earl.  "  One  sueh  experi- 
ence is  enough  in  a  lifetime." 

"  I  have  l)een  talking  to  Wodley,"  i>ut  in  Fosti;r 
Portney.  "He  has  been  through  the  ra])ids,  and  he 
says  he  will  give  us  a  luind  when  we  get  there.  He 
advises  taking  the  boats  through  almost  empty." 

The  eaptaiji  "allowed"  this  would  be  safer,  although, 
to  be  sure,  it  would  also  be  far  more  laborious,  for 
everythin[r  not  left  ii.  the  boat  would  have  to  be 
carried  over  the  roughest  kind  of  a  trail,  running 
some  distance  away  from  the  stream. 

The  two  parties  camped  side  by  side,  and  it  made 
each  feel  more  at  home  to  ha\  e  the  other  at  hand,  for 
among  these  lofty  and  cold-lojking  mountains  one  was 
very  apt  to  have  a  lonely  feeling  creeping  over  him  if 
no  companion  were  at  hand. 

"  IIow  a  man  could   attempt   this   trip  all  alone  is 


fv 


Mil 


>  ill 


jil 


MH 


!  &^ 


mm  A 

fir  t   M 


ar:  .i 


fif 


14(3 


TO    ALASKA    FOR    (JOLD. 


somelliing  I  can't  undurstjind,'"  observed  Uaiidy.  "Jiii- 
au^ire  gettiiij^  lost  in  tlios(^  mountains  ovei'  yonder  !  It 
makes  a  fellow  shiver  to  tliiidc  of  it  !  " 

"  Men  have  been  h)st  uit  here,"  n^jdied  Dr.  liar- 
waitlie,  gravely,  "and  lost  so  tiioroughly  they  have 
never  been  heard  of  sigain.  If  a  man  gets  lost  in  the 
mountains,  and  he  is  of  a  nervous  temperament,  the 
chjinees  are  that  after  a  week  or  a  month  of  it  he  will 
lose  his  mind  and  go  erazy." 

"I  guess  that  is  what  would  happen  to  me,"  an- 
swered Kandy.  "  Oh,  wliat's  that  stung  nu;  ?  A  mos- 
quito, I  deehire  !  Wlio  would  expect  to  lind  one  of 
those  pests  at  this  season  t;f  the  year?" 

"You'll  get  mos(putoes  enougli  presently,"  replied 
Foster  Portney.  "Don't  you  remember  tlie  mosqinto 
netting  I  brought  along?  During  the  sliort  summer 
hei'e  the  insects  are  apt  to  worry  the  life  out  of  a 
pers,  n." 

"  J  M'  »j)()se  they  thrive  in  tliis  moss  that  I  see 
around,"  said  Karl.  '■''  Wiiat  did  you  say  it  was  called, 
Uncle  Foster?  tundra?" 

"  Yes,  tundra,  Karl.  The  moss  is  thicker  than  this 
up  in  the  north  and  covers  every  tiling.  If  it  wasn't 
for  the  moss,  I  think  the  ground  might  thaw  out  more 
in  the  summer,  but  as  it  is,  the  moss  ])re vents  the  sun 
from  striking  in,  and  the  ground  is  as  hard  as  in  mid- 
winter six  or  eight  feet  below  the  surface." 

"  The  moss  doesn't  seem  to  have  any  effect  on  the 


wmmmmm 


ON    TO    THK    WMITI':    IIOIISK    ItAIMDS. 


147 


berry  biisht'S,  llioiijj^li,"  said  KaiMly.  ''  1  see  'em  every- 
where.     Do  tliey  bear  fruit?" 

"  Oil,  yes,  iliey  luive  everytliinj^  in  the  way  of  ber- 
ries up  here,  Kaiidy.  Hut  thtjy  are  rather  small,  and 
tliey  haven't  the  flavor  of  those  at  home.  The  berries 
have  to  take  tiie  place;  of  larg-er  fruits,  sucli  as  apples, 
pears,  and  peac^hes,  and  the  l)irds  live  on  them." 

"Well,  we  woji't  starve  as  loni,^  as  we  have  >erries, 
birds,  and  fish,"  Siud  Earl.  "■  I  (h)n't  see  where  ihis  cry 
of  starvation  comes  in,  I  must  say." 

"  O'  course  ye  don't — not  now!  "  ])urst  in  Captain 
Zoss.  "  But  wait  till  winter  sets  in.  Tlien  tiie  berries 
will  be  gone,  an'  birds  will  be  mi«rlity  scarce." 

"  But  we  11  have  the  lish,  ca[)tain.  We  can  cut  lioles 
in  the  ice  on  the  river  and  spear  tliem,  as  we  do  down 
in  Maine." 

"  Wall,  maybe,  my  lad.  But  ye  don't  catch  me 
a-tryin'  it  when  1  kin  git  anything  else —  not  with  tlie 
ice  eight  oi  ten  feet  thick  an'  the  mercury  down  to 
forty  below  nuthin'  at  all  !  " 

It  was  not  long  after  that  they  turned  in,  and  never 
did  they  sleep  more  soundly,  although  a  number  of  mos- 
quitoes visited  them.  Foster  Portney  was  the  first  to 
get  up,  and  by  the  time  tlie  boys  followed,  a  delicious 
smell  of  frying  lish  and  boiling  coffee  was  floating 
through  the  air. 

A  ten  minutes'  ride  on  the  lake  brought  them  close 
to  the   entrance   of  the    river.     Here   ihe    water   was 


i 

11] 
ill 


Ml    I 


K    ■: 


1     > 


i 


'V-r 


148 


TO    ALASKA    FOR    (iOLD. 


broken  up  into  u  dozen  currents,  swirliniT-  tliis  w.ay  and 
that  and  tli rowing  the  spray  in  (!very  dircn'-tion.  On 
either  side  of  tliis  watercourse  were  hiii^h  Avails. 

'"'  Now  fer  the  tucf  o'  war  !  "  said  Captain  Zoss,  aiul 
innnediate  preparations  were  made  to  shoot  the  canon 
and  the  falls  of  which  Kandy  and  Karl  had  heard  so 
much.  Once  past  tliat  dauLcerous  spot,  the  remain- 
der of  the  trip  to  the  j^old  regions  would  be  an  ensy 
one. 


a  t- 


i 
i! 


CIIAFTi:il   XIX. 

NEAKING   TITIO    KM)   OF   A    LUNG   .lOUKNEY. 

Both  Karl  and  Randy  lia,d  luiard  from  tlie  miner 
Wodley  that  it  was  oidy  of  late  yciir.s  that  ])rospectors 
after  gold  in  Alaska  liad  had  the  daring  to  shoot  the 
White  Horse  Kapids,  of  vvliicli  even  the  Indians  in 
their  light  eano(!S  were  afraid.  Foi'uun'ly  white  nuin 
had  })acked  everything,  even  to  their  boats,  ronnd  the 
dangerous  runs  of  water,  ii  task  which  to  them  looked 
liereulean,  when  they  gazed  at  the  tall  monntains,  and 
at  the  erooked  trail  Wodley  j)ointe(l  out. 

After  mueh  talking  by  all  hands,  it  was  decided  that 
VVodley's  boat  should  go  through  first,  loaded  down 
only  with  the  mining  tools,  whi(;h  would  not  suffer 
from  getting  wet.  Wodhiy  was  at  first  going  to  take 
the  trip  alone,  leaving  his  wile  and  the  other  miners  of 
the  party  to  join  the  I'ortney  crowd,  but  at  the  last 
moment  Ca[)tain  Zoss  asked  to  be  allowed  to  take  a 
hand,  and  the  offer  was  aci;epted. 

The  sail  was  taken  from  the  fiuHfer,  as  Wodley  had 
named  his  craft,  a  heavy-set  irlTnir,  built  to  stiind  some 
rough  usage,  and,  each  armed  with  an  oar  and  a  heavy 

149 


ii       If 

■1  ■ 

:.,. 

,r' 


i  (■; 


,•  t 


I     -:  \i 


!  i| 


Jill ,  \»i\miK  1 1  V"    M.^^ll>|l»"WJt>l!i^i 


160 


TO    ALASKA    FOIl    GOLD. 


I'    I 


pole,  the  two  men  shoved  off  from  the  rocky  shore. 
A  few  strokes  sufficed  to  send  them  into  the  current, 
and  fairly  caught,  the  boat  swung  around  and  started 
on  her  mad  career  through  the  caiion  of  rocks  and 
water  and  flying  spray. 

"  She's  off !  "  shouted  Earl,  and  followed  by  Randy 
he  sped  alongshore  and  up  to  the  edge  of  the  canon, 
where  he  might  see  what  progress  was  made.  l>ut 
hardly  had  they  readied  a  convenient  spot  when  the 
Buster  sliot  along  far  beneath  them,  and  around  a  l)end, 
and  was  hidden  from  view  in  the  midst  of  a  whirlpool 
of  waters  tliat  threatened  each  instant  to  ingulf  her. 

"  If  she  isn't  smashed  up  before  she  reaches  the  end 
of  the  canon,  then  I'll  miss  my  guess  ! "  ejaculated 
Earl.     "  My,  but  how  she  did  spin  along  !  " 

"' Wodley  ought  to  know  what  he's  doing,"  answered 
Randy.  "If  she  is  smashed  up,  I  hope  he  and  the 
captain  come  out  alive." 

Tliey  returned  to  where  the  others  had  been  left, 
and  took  up  the  heavy  packs  which  had  been  assigned 
to  them.  All  the  things  to  he  carried  had  been  equally 
divided  among  the  men  and  the  boys,  and  it  was  calcu- 
lated that  three  trips  would  be  necessary  to  move  the 
outfits. 

That  day  proved  the  hardest  they  had  yet  experi- 
enced, and  by  the  time  it  was  dark  both  Randy  and 
Earl  felt  as  if  their  backs  were  broken  and  their  feet, 
to  use  Earl's  expression,  "walked  off."     They  had  car- 


NEARINO    THE    END    OV    A    I.()N(J    .lOURNEY.        151 

ried  one-third  of  their  traps  to  ji  buautiful  spot  just 
at  the  head  of  the  worst  of  the  Wliite  Horse  Uajiids, 
which,  it  may  be  well  to  add  here,  are  many  miles  in 
extent. 

Contrary  to  the  ex^^ectation  of  the  boys,  Wodley  and 
Captain  Zoss  had  brought  the  Buster  through  in  safety. 
They  had  had  oidy  one  alarm,  just  at  the  end  of  the 
caiion  proper,  wlien  the  boat  had  swung  around  on  a 
liidden  roek  and  sliipped  about  lialf  a  barrel  of  water. 
They  were  wet  to  tlie  skin,  and  this,  ah)ng  with  the 
story  they  told,  made  Mrs.  Wodley  insist  upon  it  that 
her  husband  allow  the  other  men  of  the  party  to  bring 
tlie  Wild  Goose  tlirough,  on  the  day  following. 

As  Captain  Zoss  had  made  the  trip  once,  it  was 
decided  that  he  and  Earl  should  take  the  next  trip, 
while  the  others  made  another  tramp  over  tlie  trail 
with  more  of  the  traps.  They  encamped  at  the  White 
Horse  Rapids,  but  started  back  toward  Lake  Marsh 
before  sunrise. 

"  It's  easy  enough.  Earl,"  said  the  captain,  on  em- 
barking on  the  Wild  Goose.  "  All  you've  got  to  do  is 
to  keep  your  wits  about  you  and  your  eyes  on  the 
rocks.  Tie  the  pail  fast  to  the  seat,  so  it  won't  float 
away  if  the  boat  gives  too  much  of  a  lurch.  If  we 
have  to  bail  any,  you  had  better  do  it." 

They  were  soon  on  the  way,  out  of  the  brightness  of 
the  early  sunshine  into  the  gloom  of  the  yawning 
caiion,  which  seemed  to  swallow  them  up.     Tlie  roar 


If 


,f 


1    ; 


;    I  M 


iltlil 


[52 


TO    ALASKA    KOll    GOLD. 


of  tlie  waters  l)ctweeii  tlu;  rocks  wjis  deafeniiif^,  and 
tlic  ilyiiig'  spray  sent  a  shiver  tlirougli  Earl.  Yet  lie 
stood  to  Ills  post  manfully,  realiziiit^  that  there  was 
no  turning  back,  now  that  the  perilous  trip  was  once 
begun. 

"  To  the  left  shora  !  "  roared  Captain  Zoss,  presently, 
and  Earl  scarcely  heard  him.  Tlie  captain  waved  his 
elbow  frantically,  while  using  his  pole,  and  Earl  saw 
what  was  wanted.  They  were  running  close  to  some 
half-submerged  rocks.  A  vigorous  use  of  the  pole,  a 
slight  grating  which  made  lluj  youth  hold  his  breath, 
and  that  danger  at  least  was  past. 

lUit  more  Avere  alunid,  and  tlu^y  grew  thicker  and 
tliicker  as  the  Wild  troose  leaped,  turned,  and  twisted, 
first  in  one  mad  current  and  then  another.  Swish  ! 
came  a  huge  wave  into  the  craft,  nearly  taking  Earl 
from  his  feet.  Then,  before  he  could  make  up  his 
mind  whether  to  begin  bailing  or  not,  the  boat  slid  up 
almost  on  her  stern's  end,  and  most  of  the  water  went 
flying  forth.  "Nov/ for  the  left  shore,  and  mind  the 
channel ! "  roared  the  captain,  once  more,  and  then  the 
oars  came  into  play,  nnd  on  they  bounded  through  a 
clear  cut  in  the  rocks  not  over  twenty-five  feet  wide. 
The  cut  at  an  end,  the  captain  threw  down  his  oar  with 
a  deep  breath  of  satisfaction. 

"  The  wust  on  it's  over,"  he  announced.  "  Jest  pole 
her  along  easy-like  now,  and  we'll  be  down  to  camp 
inside  of  half  an  hour." 


NEARINd    THE    END   OF   A   LONG   JOUKNEY.       I'lS 


The  stniin  on  the  Wild  (roose  luid  caused  several  of 
the  seams  to  part,  but  it  was  decided  to  do  nothing 
with  these  until  after  the  worst  of  the  Wiiite  Horse 
Rapids  had  been  passed.  They  must  now  take  their 
crafts  out  of  water  and  carry  or  ride  them  on  rollers  to 
the  foot  of  the  falls. 

This  was  a  job  lastincf  several  days,  for  both  the 
Wild  Goose  and  the  Buster  were  heavy,  and  it  took  all 
the  men  in  both  parties  to  move  one  boat  at  a  time. 
But  at  last  the  greatest  of  the  falls  was  passed,  and 
then  it  was  decided  to  draw  the  boats  along  through 
what  remained,  and  after  anothei"  hard  day's  labor  they 
had  the  satisfaction  of  finding  themselves  free  from 
further  obstacles,  and  encamped  midway  between  Tah- 
kheena  River  and  the  head  of  Lake  Labarge.  That  day 
was  Sunday,  and  it  was  spent  in  perfect  rest  by  all. 

Thus  far  since  the  snow-squall  on  Lake  Bennett,  fine 
weather  had  favored  them,  but  now  Monday  set  in 
cloudy  and  threatening.  As  soon  as  breakfast  was 
over,  the  Wild  G-oose  was  patched  up  and  pitched  over, 
and  all  of  the  outlit  placed  on  board.  The  Buster  was 
already  loaded,  and  with  the  wind  from  the  westward 
they  tacked  down  the  river  and  into  Lake  Labarge,  a 
clear  sheet  of  water,  some  twenty  odd  miles  in  length, 
and  varying  from  two  to  four  miles  in  width.  About 
midway  from  either  end  of  tlie  lake  there  was  an  island, 
and  on  this  rocky  shore  they  were  compelled  to  seek 
shelter  about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  for  the  wind 


IV 


m 


is 


.'  ! 


1 


nV    " 


154 


TO    ALASKA    FOR   GOLD. 


had  increased  to  a  good-sized  blow,  and  to  sail  in  such 
a  boat  was,  consequently,  out  of  the  question. 

Both  the  Wild  Goose  untl  the  Butster  had  hardly  been 
drawn  up  out  of  harm's  way  than  it  began  to  rain. 
Seeing  this,  all  lost  no  time  in  pitching  the  tents  and 
in  building  fires  to  keep  warm,  for  in  this  section  of 
Alaska  a  rain  even  in  the  summer  is  sure  to  make  one 
feel  cold.  The  tents  were  pegged  down  with  extra 
care,  and  this  was  a  good  thing,  for  by  nightfall  the 
wind  had  increased  to  a  hurricane. 

The  travellers  to  the  gold  regions  were  stormbound 
at  Lake  Labarge  for  two  days.  It  did  not  rain  all  this 
time,  but  the  wind  blew  ^  oo  strongly  to  venture  from 
shore.  The  time  was  spent  inside  the  tent  and  hung 
rather  heavily,  although  occasionally  relieved  by  a 
song  from  the  doctor,  or  a  yarn  told  by  Captain  Zoss, 
or  Wodley,  who,  along  with  his  wife,  and  Crimmins 
and  Johnson,  the  other  two  miners,  made  themselves 
quite  at  home  with  the  Portney  party. 

"  The  wind  has  moderated  at  last ! "  said  Randy, 
who  was  the  first  out  on  the  third  morning.  "  Now  let 
us  make  the  most  of  the  fine  weather  while  it  lasts." 

The  others  were  more  than  willing,  and  the  stove 
and  camping  outfit  were  taken  down  to  the  Wild  Goose 
without  delay.  The  Wodley  party  was  also  stirring, 
but  did  not  start  until  some  time  later  on  ;  and  the  two 
parties  did  not  see  each  other  again  until  many  a  day 
later. 


f!l 


NKAUlN(i    THIO    KM)   OF    A    LONG    .lUUUNKV. 


h')b 


let 

cove 
'oose 
ing, 
two 
day 


Tlio  journey  to  the  end  of  Lake  Labaruce  wascjuickly 
made,  and  tliey  entered  the  tliirty-niih3  watercourse,  at 
that  time  uiniamed,  which  connects  thi;  hike  witli  tlie 
Big  Salmon  and  tlie  l^ewes  rivers,  liandy  and  Karl  were 
in  charge,  the  men  taking  it  easy  over  tlieir  pipes,  for 
the  captain  was  an  inveterate  smoker,  and  Mr.  Portney 
and  the  doctor  indvdged  occasionally  in  the  weed. 

A  good  many  miles  had  been  covered,  when  Earl, 
happening  to  glance  at  his  pocket  compass,  announced 
that  they  were  sailing  almost  due  southward.  "  And 
that  can't  be  right,"  he  said  to  Kandy.  "  We  ought 
to  be  headed  for  the  northwest." 

"  Well,  we're  on  the  river  all  right,"  answered 
Randy.  Nevertheless,  he  spoke  to  his  uncle  about  it, 
who  at  once  consulted  his  pocket  map. 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  you've  done,"  he  announced 
presently.  "  Instead  of  sticking  to  the  river  that  flows 
northward,  you  have  turned  into  the  Teslin,  which 
flows  to  the  south.  Swing  the  Wild  Goose  around  at 
once." 

Much  crestfallen  over  their  mistake,  the  boys  did  as 
requested.  They  had  to  go  back  nearly  four  miles,  as 
they  calculated,  before  they  saw  the  opening  which  had 
previously  escaped  their  notice.  But  once  right,  they 
found  the  wind  directly  in  their  favor,  and  with  the 
sail  set  to  its  fullest,  they  bowled  along  until  the  Big 
Salmon  was  reached,  and  they  swept  into  the  broad 
waters  of  the  Lewes  River. 


P 


4 


!  M 


v- 


156 


TO   ALASKA    FOR   GOLD. 


"And  now  for  the  Yukon  juul  the  gold  regions  1" 
cried  Dr.  Harwaithe.  "  How  much  further  liave 
we  to  go?  "  he  questioned,  turning  to  Foster  Portney. 

"  About  three  hundred  and  fifty  miles,"  was  the  . 
answer.  "  And  with  the  exception  of  the  Rink  and 
Five  Finger  rapids,  which  don't  amount  to  much,  so  I 
have  heard,  we'll  have  straight  sailing.  Ten  days 
more  ought  to  see  us  at  Dawson  City,  ready  to  stake 
our  claims." 


f  ?: 


t'f 


THK   (lOLl)    KIKI.DS    A  I'    I.AST. 

On  the  loUowiiig  day  the  v  ind  (li(!(l  down  utterly, 
and  no  proj^ress  couhl  he  made  in  tlie  Wild  Goose  ex- 
cepting hy  tiie  use  of  oars,  and  this  was  sh)w  and  hiho- 
rious  work.  They  took  turns  at  rowing,  (wo  at  a  turn, 
witli  tlie  others  taking  it  easy  on  the  blankets,  for  the 
river  was  now  broad  and  deep  and  as  smooth  as  a  mill- 
pond. 

On  the  second  day  they  seemed  to  leave  the  rocks 
behind,  and  emerged  into  a  slightly  hilly  country. 
Here  the  banks  of  the  stream  were  overgrown  with 
bushes  and  flowers,  the  latter  just  starting  to  push 
forth  their  buds  in  countless  profusion  of  variety  and 
color.  The  transformation  was  almost  magical  and 
more  than  one  spoke  of  it. 

"That's  the  way  of  things  in  Alaska,"  said  Foster 
Portney.  "  There  are  no  spring  and  autumn ;  just 
winter  and  summer,  and  that's  all.  The  warm  weather 
which  is  now  coming  on  will  last  until  September,  and 
then  winter  will  come  almost  before  you  know  it." 

Earl  had  noticed  the  increase  in  heat  since  leaving 

167 


i\ 


hi  I 

hi! 


m 


ir,s 


ro  Ai,Asi\.\    I'Oi;  ccfM). 


"  1, 


^H 


M        !i 


lii<^  Iiilv(>s,  and  uow  Uv  jM'rspircd  IVccIv  while  j)iilliii^  at. 
<lu'  loiijj  ua?'.  Ivaiidy  sal  in  (In;  Imiw  (akiiiL;'  in  llic; 
.si^lUs.  A  llock  III"  wild  l;'«m's«'  caiiu'  HViccjiiiiL;'  Inward 
llioir.,  ami  Im>  asked  loi-  piM'iDissioii  lo  lake  a.  shot  wiili 
tlie  u'un.  His  aim  was  a  i^oud  one,  and  Iwn  <»!"  Ilie, 
erealures  fell  where  lliev  were  readily  piekcid  uj). 

"We'll  have  slulV{Mi  n'ooso  to-iiij^hl,"*  said  Iheeaplain, 
with  a  ij^rin.  "•  It's  a  pity  wo  ain't  l;«>1'  sage  .uT  onions 
liM"  sluiT  it  with." 

"•  i\M'ha])s  I  ean  find  sonuMhinjj^  lo  take  ilu)  pliico  of 
saL;e.""  said  the  doetor.  "■  This  vaiMcty  ol'  hnsiicH  Jiiid 
vines  ong'ht  \o  produee  sonu^  siniiliir  herb/' 

l)urin>x  the  ])ast  two  days  they  had  noted  a  imndjer 
of  islands  in  tlu»  river,  and  that  nijj^ht  they  made  a 
lanilini:;'  on  one  of  these,  in  ])referen('o  to  tyinLic  uj)  on 
shore.  Mosquitoes  wen*  more  nnmerous  than  i^ver, 
but  a  sraudixo  built  by  Foster  Portney  soon  drove  the 
mosi  of  tlu^  insee's  otT. 

The  island  was  several  acres  in  extent,  and  while  the 
captain  busied  liimsclf  in  roast in<x  a  goose  and  frying 
some  potatoes  he  had  "'traded  in"  from  Wodley  for  a 
bit  of  bacon.  Randy  and  Earl  took  a  tramp  around,  to 
stretch  their  legs  and  })rospect  on  the  sly.  One  carried 
a  pick  and  a  shovel  and  the  other  a  gold-washing  })an, 
and  coming  ;  o  a  Ik^Uow  where  they  could  work  unob- 
served, tliey  set  about  getting  out  some  dirt  from  under 
a  series  of  rocks.  The  pan  was  soon  full,  and  then 
Earl  started  to  w^asli  by  pouring  waiter   on   top   and 


iiiK  (,i>f.\)  I  ii;m)s   a'I'   LAsr. 


ir,!) 


f^nviiiL,''    if    (Ik'    r(»tiiry    iiiulion    he    Imd    iKsiid    liis  unch; 
MM'iil  imi. 

Tin;  l;il)(tr  w;is  lender  lli;iii  ritlirr  of  tlifin  liiid  irriuj(- 
incd,  iiiul  lour  piinriilH  ol'  diil,  w<'r<^  wiislicd  out,  liiaviii^ 
iiolliiii|L^  hill  HMioolli  stones  Ix'liind.  Tliey  wcr-e,  ji,}»oiif, 
lo  coiiliiiiie  llie  process,  when  they  heiird  their  iineh; 
culliii^  tlieiii,  iiiid  II.  moment  hi'ec  l''osler  I'ortney  ji])- 
ptjured.  He  stii/'.e.d  to  hiiij^h,  hut  (juiekly  eh<;(;k(3(l 
Iiims<'li". 

'•'' Dij^'^iug  lor  ^^old,  eli?"  he  siiid.  "Well,  I  dDri't 
lliink  youMl  find  iiny  here  The,  lorriiation  of  ifn; 
ground  isn't,  ri;^lit,.  If  th<!r(!  is  iiny  precious  rn<;tal 
Jirouud  at  all,  it's  ill  t  he  hot  tom  of  yiider- liver.  Mif^dit 
as  \V(dl  j^n'M!  il  up."  And  s(»ni(!\vhat  dis;^nist(!d  the  hoyn 
r(!turn(!d  to  camp.  It  was  the-  '»idy  time  they  tried 
[>r()sp(^ctin,L,''  until  the  i-cL^nhir  gold  fields  w(!re  reached. 

Two  days  hitc^i'  found  th(!n)  at  the  Kink  and  Five 
r"'ing(U'  iMpids.  Owing  to  tlx;  iiudting  of  the  snow 
and  ice  under  the  increasing  h<!at  of  tlje  sun,  tiie  river 
was  very  high  now,  and,  conscMiuently.  both  spots  were 
passcid  with  con»[)arative  ease,  the  dang(;rous  roeks 
l)eing  eovered  to  a  depth  of  ii  yard  oi  more.  In  con- 
S(Mpieii(;(!  of  this  increase  of  water,  the  river  had  ovei- 
tlow(!(l  its  hank  for  miles,  forming  great  lakes  and 
marshes  everywhere,  aiid  at  times  it  was  almost  impos- 
sible for  them  to  kee[)  to  the  chaunt;!.  Once  they  did 
make  a  false  tm-n,  only  to  liiid  themselves,  lialf  an  hour 
later,  in  a  "blind  pocket,"  as  Dr.  Harwaithe  put  it. 


n 


[(il 


;;:!|: 


»ii 


iii^ 


160 


TO    ALASKA    Foi:   (;()LD. 


The  rapids  jind  tlie  Tiu;lnin  lliver  })iisse(l,  it  was 
almost  a  straight  sail  northwest  to  tlie  niiiis  of  ohl 
Fort  Selkirk.  I>ut  little  could  he  seen  of  tlie  former 
fort,  the  Indians  haviuLif  overturned  the  very  founda- 
tions in  their  search  for  trinkets  and  articles  of  value. 
They  encamped  at  the  spot  over-ni^ht  and  were  joined 
on  the  following  morning  by  two  other  parties  who 
had  crossed  Chilkoot  Pass  two  days  after  themselves. 

Of  these  i)arties  Earl  asked  for  news  of  Tom  lloland 
and  Jasper  (luardley,  and  was  informed  that  the  men 
had  joined  a  crowd  of  Irishmen  from  I  Portland,  who 
were  coming  tlirough  on  a  large  raft.  "  They're  a 
tough  crowd,  too  —  all  of  'em,''  said  the  speaker. 
"  If  they  don't  get  into  trouble  l)efore  they  leave  tlio 
gold  diggings,  it  will  be  mighty  queer." 

From  old  Fort  Selkirk  to  Dawson  CUty  is  a  distance  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  miles,  through  a  country  so  varied 
that  it  is  next  to  impossible  to  describe  it.  At  times  the 
voyagers  found  themselves  sailing  cahnly  along  on  a 
broad  expanse  of  water  dotted  here  and  there  with 
wooded  islands,  rich  in  new  foliage  and  evergreen  trees, 
and  again  the  stream  would  narrow,  with  high  and  rocky 
hills  on  either  side.  Here  the  water  would  flow  swiftly 
over  and  around  jagged  rocks,  and  the  utmost  care 
would  have  to  be  exercised  in  avoiding  a  smash-up. 
Once  they  did  receive  a  severe  shaking-up  and  had  to 
run  for  a  low  island  with  all  possible  s[)eed,  to  avoid 
becoming  waterlogged.      This  happened   in   the  fore- 


\y 


Till-:   (JOLI)    FIKLDS    AT    LAST. 


IGl 


noon,  and  it  Unyk  tlu;  l)iiliin('t!  of  lliu  day  lo  iiiakt)  tliu 
Wild  Gooac  as  Koawcu'tli}'  as  Ixd'oro. 

A  week  and  niori;  lia<l  slipju-d  l)y  sincu!  leaviiin'  the 
Rink  Rapids,  and  now  all  were  nn  (lie  walcli  for  tlio 
lirst  siu'lit  of  tlio  ik;\v  ^'old  liclds.  I'^vtiry  one  was  in  a 
state  of  suj)[)ressed  exeiteinent.  'i'ley  laid  met  half 
a  dozen  miners  sailiiiij  ])a('k  and  forth  on  the  I'ivei'  and 
from  these  had  learned  that  everything- was '"  boominj^"," 
and  that  strikes  wen;  [)ainiinL;'  out  hi^.  The  eyes  of 
})oth  Randy  and  Karl  i^listened  wlien  they  heard  these 
stories,  and  the  hardships  endured  sinee  Icavinj^'  Dyea 
were  foi'jj^otten. 

"•  Hurrah  !  there's  a  mincer's  lent  I  "  su(hlenly  sliouted 
Randy,  kite  one  aftiirnoon.  '■'•  W^e've  struck  the  dig- 
ixin<^s  at  hist  !  " 

''There  are  half  a  do/en  tents  and  a  hoard  eahin  !  " 
adtleil  Earl,  pointini^  still  fui'tluM-  on.  *"  I  L^uess  you're 
riglit,  Randy.  1  wonder  if  that  is  the  Klondike  River 
over  yonder.     It  looks  mij4'lity  small." 

"  That's  only  a  eieek,"  said  Foster  Portney.  "  We'll 
land  and  see  how  far  we  ai'e  from  Daw.-itm." 

The  Wlhl  Goose  was  easily  beaeJied,  and  they  lost  no 
time  in  hunting  up  the  miners  to  whom  the  tents  and 
the  cabin  belonged.  They  were  a  party  of  Frenehmen 
from  Canada  and  eould  s[)eak  but  little  hjiglish.  Dr. 
liarwaithe  spoke  to  them  in  their  luitive  tongue  and 
»oon  learned  that  the  })la(;e  was  I  taker's  Creek  and  th.'it 
Dawson   City   was  about  six   miles   further    on.     The 


M 


llii. 


/ 


162 


TO    ALASKA    FOR    GOLD. 


.1 


If  ■  III 


?|8  t 


I'm 


i}':r^ 


M 


hi'''  •  ' 


hi   '  ^ 


i'  ■! 


If.':    I    r« 


%-' 


Freiichineii  were  very  conservative,  but  iidinitted  that 
they  were  doing  very  well  at  plaeer-niining,  taking  out 
an  avei'age  of  thirty  dollars  a  day  per  man. 

"  Thirty  dollars  a  day  !  "  cried  Handy.  "  A  fellow 
can  get  rich  (j^uick  enough  at  that  rate." 

"Hardly — with  such  a  sliort  season,"  answered  his 
uncle.     "Yet  thirty  dollars  isn't  bad  by  any  means." 

"I'm  up  yere  to  strike  a  fortune,"  put  in  the  captain. 
"  No  measly  little  thirty  dollars  a  day  fer  me  !  " 

Both  Randy  and  Earl  wished  to  remain  beliind  to 
see  the  Frenchmen  wash  out  the  gold  dust,  but  the 
others  were  impatient  to  go  on,  and  they  were  soon  on 
the  way  once  more. 

"  If  tht  claims  are  good  around  here,  it  won't  be  long 
before  they  are  taken  up,"  said  Foster  Fortney.  "  For, 
as  you  can  see,  men  are  pouring  in  over  the  mountains 
every  day,  not  to  say  anything  of  those  who  make  the 
long  trip  by  way  of  the  ocean  and  up  the  Yukon." 

"  Well,  Fm  just  crazy  to  get  to  work,"  declared 
Randy.  "  Just  think  of  the  gold  lying  around  ready 
to  be  picked  up  !  " 

His  uncle  smiled.  Foor  Randy !  Little  did  he 
dream  of  the  many  backaches  and  privations  in  store 
for  him. 

To  the  loft  of  the  river  there  now  arose  a  long  chain 
of  hills  and  mountains,  sloping  grjidually  to  the  water's 
edge;  on  the  right  were  smaller  hills  and  great  marshes, 
fairly  choked  with  bushes  and  wild  growths  of  vines 


m 


THE   GOLD   FIELDS    AT   LAST. 


163 


jiiul  flowers.  The  tundra  was  everywhere,  and  over 
all  circled  flocks  and  flocks  of  wild  birds,  a  few  mosqui- 
toes, and  something  they  had  not  yet  seen  —  horseflies. 
The  horseflies  were  black  and  green  in  color,  and  a  bite 
from  one  of  them  made  Ca[)tain  Zoss  utter  a  mighty 
yell  of  pain.  "  It  was  like  the  stab  of  a  dagger  !  "  he 
declared  afterwards,  and  so  angry  did  the  bite  become, 
and  so  prinful,  that  the  doctor  was  called  upon  to  treat 
it  with  a  soothing  lotion. 

It  was  after  seven  o'clock,  but  still  daylight,  when 
Dr.  Barwaithe  raised  his  hand  for  the  otliers  to  be- 
come silent.  "•  Listen  !  "  he  said.  "  I  think  I  heard  a 
steamboat  whistle.  All !  I  was  right.  A  boat  is  on 
the  river  !  " 

A  few  minutes  passed,  and  they  heard  the  whistle 
again.  Then  Earl  pointed  ahead  excitedly.  "  There's 
the  boat,  and  she  is  tied  up  to  the  river  bank.  There 
are  half  a  dozen  buildings  and  fifty  tents  or  more.  I'll 
wager  it's  Dawson  I  " 

With  hearts  which  beat  (quickly  they  sailed  forward, 
using  the  oars  to  make  the  Wild  Goose  move  the  faster. 
Another  turn  of  the  stream  and  tlie  mining  town  could 
be  seen  quite  plainly.  Ten  minutes  later  they  ran  up 
just  behind  the  steamboat  and  tied  fast.  The  long 
trip  was  at  an  end.  The  new  diggings,  wHJi  all  tlieir 
golden  hopes,  lay  before  them. 


!■:  (^ 


CHAPTER   XXI. 


A    DAV    IN    DAWSOX    CITY. 


At  the  time  of  wliieh  I  wiile,  Duwson  City  was  little 
better  than  a  rude  inining  camp,  eontainiiig,  as  has  been 
previously  mentioned,  a  half  dozen  board  buildings  and 
lifty  tents,  strung  along  what  was  known  as  tlie  prinei- 
l)al  "street."  Back  in  the  tindjer  land  a  rude  saw-mill 
had  been  set  up,  and  this  was  begimung  to  get  out  lum- 
ber at  the  moderate  price  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
live  dollars  per  thousand  feet  ! 

A  year  before  Dawson  (^ity  liad  been  unknown,  but 
the  rich  tinds  of  gold  on  Bonanza  and  Gold  Bottom 
creeks  had  caused  tlie  miners  to  leave  Circle  City  and 
Forty  jNIile  Post  and  boom  the  new  El  Dorado,  as  it 
was  termed,  and  the  settlement  grew  as  if  by  magic. 
From  the  wild  rush  to  stake  claims  many  rows  resulted, 
but  the  cooler  heads  speedily  took  matters  in  hand,  and 
each  man  was  allowed  a  claim  from  live  to  fifteen  hun- 
dred feet  h>ng  and  extending  the  width  of  the  creek  or 
guh'h  in  which  it  was  located. 

These  claims  were  not  located  upon  the  Klondike 
River,  wliicli  joins  the  Yukon  at  Dawson  City,  as  has 
been  often  supposed,  but  upon  the  little  watercourses 


m 


A    DAY    IN    DAW. SUN    CLTY. 


105 


ruiiniiijx  into  tlie  Klondike.  Tlioso  Gfold-bcariiiLi'  die:- 
,i^ings  are,  or  weru,  variously  oallcd  Honaii/.a,  (iold  Bot- 
tom, and  Bear  creeks,  which  flow  into  the  Klondike 
direct,  and  Hunker,  I^ast  Chance,  VA  Dorado,  Adams, 
Shan tantuy, and  other  creeks  and  semi-wet  i^ulclies  which 
are  tributaries  to  the  creeks  lirst  named.  'I'lie  names 
were  arbitrar3%  and  were  ol'ten  chant;-ed  to  suit  the 
miners'  tastes. 

To  Randy  and  Earl,  the  camp  present(!d  the  appear- 
ance of  having  "just  moved  in,"  as  the  younger  brother 
termed  it.  On  every  side  were  miners'  outlits  stacked 
in  little  piles,  while  their  owners  were  either  at  hand 
erecting  tents,  or  off  prospecting  or  buying  supplies. 
There  was  but  one  store,  a  rude;  board  building  not  over 
twenty  by  thirty  feet,  in  which  everything  on  hand  was 
offered  at  most  extravagant  prices.  Flour  sold  for 
sixty  dollars  per  barrel,  beans  fifty  cents  per  pound, 
bacon  and  canned  meats  seventy-five  cents  per  pound, 
and  other  goods  in  proportion.  There  were  no  fresh 
meats  excepting  two  sides  of  beef  just  brought  in  by 
the  little  flat-bottomed  steamljoat  fi'om  (Urcle  City,  and 
which  were  rapidly  disposed  of  at  two  dollars  to  live 
dollars  per  pound.  A  crate  of  eggs  were  at  hand,  to  be 
purchased  at  one  dollar  per  dozen,  but  as  most  of  the 
eggs  were  stale,  the  contents  of  the  crate  went  begging. 
Of  miners'  tools,  a  pick  or  a  shovel  brought  ten  dollars 
to  fifteen  dollars,  while  washing  pans  were  not  to  be 
found,  and  had  to  be  manufactured  by  the  miners  them- 


m^ 


I  'J 


'Til 

r 


m^ik 


160 


TO    ALASKA    FOli    COLD. 


selves.  Wearin.L*'  apparel  was  also  searee,  and  Karl  saw 
twenty  dollars  given  for  a  ilaiuiel  shirt,  and  five  dollars 
for  a  pair  of  socks,  both  articles  being  paid  for  in  gold 
dust. 

As  it  was  evening,  most  of  the  miners  had  given  up 
work  and  come  into  the  camp  to  talk,  trade,  and  learn 
the  latest  news.  Every  one  was  in  a  quiver  of  excite- 
ment, and  the  announcement  that  an  extra  good  find  had 
been  made  on  Hunker  Creek  caused  many  to  strike  out 
during  the  night  to  make  new  claims  in  that  vicinity. 

"  Let  us  go,  too  !  "  cried  Randy,  and  Earl  joined  in  ; 
but  the  men  talked  it  over  and  decided  to  remain  in 
Dawson  City  until  they  learned  more  about  the  "  lay  of 
the  land."  They  pitched  their  tent  as  close  to  where 
their  boat  lay  as  possible,  but  it  is  doubtful  if  any  of 
tlie  party  slept  7;hrongh  that  short  night,  which  had 
hardly  anything  of  darkness. 

All  told,  there  were  not  over  six  hundred  white  men 
in  camp,  and,  in  addition,  there  were  perhaps  a  hundred 
Indians,  with  their  squaws,  children,  and  dogs;  for  no 
Alaskan  Indian  family  is  complete  without  from  one  to 
a  half-dozen  canines  attached.  The  Indians  Avere  there 
to  sell  tish  and  game,  and  to  pick  up  odd  jobs  of  pack- 
carrying.  They  took  but  little  interest  in  the  gold 
strikes,  and  it  was  but  rarely  that  they  could  be  found 
mining,  and  then  never  for  themselves. 

One  of  the  tirst  lessons  to  be  learned  l)y  the  boys  and 
the   others,  was  that  of   keeping   ihuiV  uil^llts   intact. 


A    DAY    IN   DAWSON    CITY. 


167 


ikI 
•t. 


Iliirdly  were  tliey  up  in  tlu'  iiioi'iiiiig  than  u  dozen 
miners  and  |)r()S[»L'etoi'S  eiune  slinl'llin^-  around  oi't'ering 
them  various  i)riees  for  this  and  tlial.  Had  lliey  been 
willing  to  sell,  they  ecjuld  have  dis^josed  of  all  they  jjos- 
sessed  by  noon,  but,  eautioned  by  Foster  Portney,  they 
were  iirni,  and  nothing  was  allowed  to  change  hands 
but  a  small  bottle  of  cough  syrup  which  the  doctor  sold 
for  an  ounce  of  gold,  worth  sixteen  dollars,  to  a  poor  fel- 
low suffering  with  a  slight  attack  of  pneumonia.  The 
doctor  wanted  no  pay,  but  the  miner  insisted  on  giving 
it,  saying  he  would  pay  a  thousand  dollars  if  the  physi- 
cian would  make  him  as  well  and  strong  as  ever  again. 

After  many  careful  incpiiries,  it  was  decided  that  the 
party  should  first  try  its  luck  on  (iold  Bottom  Creek,  at 
some  spot  near  to  where  the  watercourse  was  joinf^d  by 
Hunker  and  Last  Chance  creeks.  They  had  learned 
that  while  Bonanza  and  El  Dorado  creeks  were  j)aying 
well,  all  the  best  claims  in  those  localities  were  already 
staked  out. 

Two  days  later  found  them  encamped  at  the  entrance 
to  a  tiny  watercourse,  which  flowed  into  Gold  IJottom 
Creek.  They  had  come  in  from  the  Klondike  with 
their  outfits  on  their  backs  and  half  a  dozen  Indians  to 
aid  them,  for  the  trail  was  over  rough  rocks  and  through 
lowlands  of  berry  bushes  and  tundra,  —  a  wearisome 
walk  which  to  Randy,  at  least,  seemed  to  liave  no  end. 
Often  they  sank  up  to  their  knees  in  the  muck  and  cold 
water,  and  once  the  doctor  got  '"•stuck"  and  had  to  Ijc 


I 


168 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


Mimi 


1:1 


!       I 


;^ 


liaiilcd  forth  by  iiiiiiii  str(3n<^tli  imd  inlinis  ono  boot, 
wliicli  was  afterward  recovered.  A  ^iromising  spot  waa 
reaohcid  by  nip^litfall,  tlie  Indians  wuro  paid  and  sent  off, 
and  thoy  set  about  inakini^  themselves  a  home,  tempo- 
rary or  p(!rinan(!iit,  as  fortune  might  elect. 

A  flat  surface  on  the  side  of  a  small  hill  was  selected, 
and  the  tents  were  placed  end  to  end,  as  before,  but 
tightened  down  to  stay.  Then  a  trench  was  dug  around 
the  sides  and  tlu;  back,  so  that  when  it  rained  the  water 
might  drain  off.  This  (h)ne,  the  interior  was  carpeted 
with  small  branches  of  pine  and  evergreen. 

"  A  good,  healthful  smell,"  said  the  doctor,  referring 
to  the  greens;  "and  one;  that  will  ward  off  many  a  cohl. 
On  the  top  of  those  branches  one  ought  to  sleep  almost 
as  comfortably  as  on  a  fe.ither  be(h" 

The  interior  of  the  tents  arranged,  a  fu'eplace  was 
next  in  order,  a  semicircuhir  affair  of  stone,  in  which 
the  sheet-iron  stove  might  be  slieltered  from  the  wind. 
Then  came  a  cache  for  the  provisions  to  be  stored  away; 
and  their  domestic  arrangements  were  complete. 

It  was  bright  and  early  on  the  day  following  that  all 
hands  set  off  to  prospect  along  the  bottom  of  the  gulch, 
which  the  boys  had  named  Prosper.  They  were  di- 
vided into  two  parties,  the  doctor  and  the  captain  in 
one,  and  the  boys  and  their  uncle  in  the  other.  The 
latter  turned  up  to  the  left  arm  of  the  gulch  and  pres- 
ently came  to  a  little  hollow,  where  the  tiny  stream  of 
water  flowing  along  had  deposited  some  coarse  sand  to 
a  depth  of  eight  to  twenty  inches. 


^v 


m 


A    DAY    IN    DAWSON    CITY. 


1(19 


"Now  W(3'll  sliovcl  ii[)  some  of  tliis  sand  in  tlic  |)iin 
iiiul  s(3(j  wliat  it  anioiiiits  to,"  said  Foster  Portnoy. 
"  Don't  take  what  is  ri_Lflit  on  toj),  boys.  If  there  is 
any  .ijfohl,  it  is  (h)wn  next  to  tlu;  bed  rock.  And  don't 
fdl  the  [)an  too  lull."  The  boys  workc^d  eaj^erly,  and 
soon  liad  the  pan  nearly  fnll  of  tlie  sand.  Mr.  I'ort- 
ney  then  carried  it  to  a  nearl)y  pool  and  allowed  tin; 
water  to  rnn  over  the  top,  then  brnsluMJ  oiY  the  snrfaee 
and  bcq-an  to  "wash  down."  This  look  several  niin- 
ntes,  and  Handy  and  Karl  stood  Ijy  almost  breathless 
dnrin^'  the  process. 

At  last  only  a  handfnl  of  sand  and  dirt  remained  at 
the  bottom  of  the  i)an.  All  thi'fU!  examined  it  with 
care.  Here  and  there  eonld  be  seen  a  tiny  grain  of 
dnll  yellow. 

"That  is  i^'old,"  explained  Fosti'r  i'ortni^y.  "  Hnt 
there  is  hardly  enont^h  to  pay  ;  probably  three  or  i'onr 
cents'  worth  in  all." 

"  Is  that  all !  "  cried  Handy,  and  his  voice  was  fnll  of 
disapi)ointment.  Earl  said  nothing,  bnt  gathered  np 
the  pick  and  shovel  and  moved  on. 

In  two  days  a  dozen  otlu^r  spots  had  been  tried  with 
even  worse  success,  and  the  three  in  the  party  began  to 
imagine  that  the  gulch  was  of  no  consecpience,  so  far  as 
staking  a  claim  there  was  concerned.  To  add  to  their 
discomfiture  a  miner  cinm;  along  who  said  he  had  gone 
all  over  that  locality  a  month  |)i'evi(tus. 

"  \in't  nothin'  thar,"  he  announced;   "nothin'  wnth 


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170 


TO   ALASKA    FOR   GOLD. 


over  four  or  five  cents  ii  luinful.  lietter  try  your  luck 
elsewar,  friends." 

"We'll  put  in  another  day  over  here,"  announced 
Foster  Portney.  "One  day  won't  count  very  much, 
and  ground  is  often  gone  over  a  dozen  times  before 
the  right  strike  is  made." 

They  had  brought  a  lunch  with  them,  and  now  sat 
down  on  the  edge  of  a  small  stony  clift'  to  eat  it.  The 
boys  were  tremendously  hungry  and  could  have  de- 
voured twice  as  much  as  what  was  on  hand,  but  they 
were  beginning  to  learn  that  short  rations  would  be 
something  to  look  forward  to  for  some  time  to  come. 

Having  eaten  what  was  allotted  to  him,  Handy  be- 
gan to  poke  around  with  the  pick,  while  his  uncle  and 
Earl  still  rested.  The  cliff  was  divided  into  two  sec- 
tions, and  between  was  a  lot  of  rotten  stone,  dirt, 
muck,  and  rubbish.  Striking  the  jDick  deeply  into  this. 
Randy  loosened  a  portion  of  the  stone,  and  out  it  rolled 
into  tlie  gulch,  bringing  the  dirt  and  a  good  portion  of 
the  rubbish  after  it.  He  began  to  scatter  the  stuff  to 
the  right  and  the  left  when  something  shiny  caught  his 
eye,  and  stooping  he  picked  it  up,  while  his  heart 
leaped  into  his  throat. 

"  Uncle  Foster  !  Earl !  Look  at  this  !  "  he  cried, 
and  ran  to  them,  holding  up  the  object  as  he  did  so. 
It  was  larger  than  an  egg  and  quite  heavy.  Foster 
Portney  gave  one  glance  and  then  leaped  forward, 
dropping  what  food  still  remained  in  his  hand. 


A   DAY   IN   DAWSON   CITY. 

'*  Where  did  you  liiul  it,  Riindy  ?  "  he  exclaimed. 
"  Over  yonder,"   was  the  Iiasty  reply.     "  But  is  it 
gold,  Uncle  Foster  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Randy,  it's  a  nu|Tget  as  sure  as  you're  born  — 
a  nugget  worth  at  least  two  hundred  dollars.  And 
what's  better  yet,"  went  on  Mr.  Portney  as  Handy  be- 
gan to  dance  with  delight,  -the  chances  are  that 
there  are  more  where  this  came  from !  " 


ii 


H 
m 


r '  u\ 


mm 


I 


CHAPTER   XXII. 


DIGGING   FOR   GOLD. 


A  NUGGET  worth  two  hundred  dollars  I  Randy 
could  scarcely  believe  his  eyes  and  ears.  He  gazed 
at  his  uncl^  for  a  moment  in  open-moutlied  wonder. 

"•  You're  in  luck,  and  po  mistake  !  "  broke  in  Earl, 
as  he  also  examined  tlie  yellowish  lumj).  "  Say,  but 
that's  a  strike  to  start  on,  isn't  it !  " 

He  had  lioi)ed  to  make  the  first  find  himself,  but  he 
was  too  unselfisli  to  begrudge  Ids  brotlier  tliat  pleasure. 
Leaving  the  lump  in  his  uncle's  possession.  Randy  led 
the  way  back  to  where  the  find  had  been  made,  and  all 
three  set  to  work  without  delay  to  empty  tlie  "  pocket," 
as  Foster  Portney  called  it,  and  examine  tlie  contents. 

"  Here's  another  !  "  cried  Earl,  presently.  "  It's  not 
quite  so  large,  though." 

"  15ut  it's  worth  at  least  a  hundred  dollars.  Earl," 
answered  his  uncle.  "  And  see,  here  are  a  number  of 
little  fellows  worth  from  ten  dollars  to  fifty  each. 
Randy  has  struck  a  bonanza  beyond  a  doubt.  Don't 
scatter  tliat  dirt  too  much,  for  we  must  wash  out  every 
ounce  of  it  for  little  nuggets  and  dust." 

"And  maybe  there  is  a  vein  of  gold  back  there," 

172 


I)I(;(;iNG    FOIl   GOLD. 


173 


n*e, 


said  Uiindy,  proudly.     "If  tliure  is,  wa  can  all  work  it, 
can't  we?" 

"  Yes,  unless  tlie  captain  and  the  doctor  have  struck 
something  cfpially  good.  There,  that  seems  to  he  the 
last  of  the  nuggets.  I^et  us  count  them.  Fourteen  in 
all,  and  worth  at  least  four  hundred  dollars.  It  paid 
to  stay  over  in  spite  of  what  that  miner  said,  didn't 
it?"  And  Foster  l*ortney  laughed,  and  the  boys  joined 
in  readily,  for  the  discovery  of  so  much  gold  had  put 
all  into  tJie  best  of  humor. 

The  nuggets  picked  out,  they  set  to  work  to  wash 
out  the  sand  and  dirt.  While  Foster  Portney  lilled 
the  pan  and  washed,  tlie  two  boys  took  turns  in  bring- 
ing u[)  water  from  the  pool,  using  for  the  [)urpose  a 
rubber  water  bag  the  man  Inul  thouglitfuUy  provided 
for  just  such  an  emergency.  The  washings  continued 
until  it  was  quite  dark,  and  by  that  time  hidf  of  the 
dirt  iiad  been  gone  over  and  something  like  two  ounces 
of  gold  dust  extracted. 

"  Not  so  bad,"  said  Mr.  I'ortney.  '"  l*erhaps  to- 
morrow we'll  do  even  better." 

"I  could  keep  on  all  night,"  declared  Kandy,  who 
was  loath  to  quit  the  locality.  "  Somebody  may  come 
in  and  take  the  claim  away  from  us  l)efore  m(>rning." 

"  We'll  leave  the  i)ick  and  the  shovel  in  it,  and  that 
will  prevent  them,"  was  the  answer ;  and  this  was 
done.  No  miner  dares  to  toucli  anotlier's  "prospect" 
so  long  as  any  tools  remain  in  it. 


1 

Vji  I 

■  hi 
Hi 

■  -^    ■  ]}  -■ 

ii 


174 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


Wh^n  they  got  buck  to  camp  they  found  the  doctor 
and  the  captain  already  there.  The  two  had  tried  half 
a  dozen  spots,  but  only  one  had  yielded  sullicient  gold 
dust  to  warrant  their  continuing  to  work  it.  They 
listened  with  keen  interest  to  the  account  of  the  find 
made  by  Randy,  and  were  quite  willing  to  take  a  hand 
at  prospecting  that  locality  the  next  day. 

Eight  o'clock  found  all  hard  at  work.  While  the 
captain  and  Earl  washed,  the  others  went  into  the 
opening  of  the  cliff  and  brought  out  all  that  remained 
of  the  dirt  and  loose  stones.  There  was  not  a  great 
deal,  and  sliortly  after  noon  every  shovelful  was  heaped 
up  close  to  the  artificial  pool  of  water  Dr.  Barwaithe 
had  constructed.  While  the  washing  continued,  Foster 
Portney  examined  the  sides  and  the  bottom  of  the 
opening,  and  then  moved  forward  through  a  tangled 
mass  of  brushwood  and  tundra  until  he  came  to  the 
bed  of  a  second  gulch  a  hundred  feet  distance  from 
the  first. 

"  There  is  nothing  more  in  the  pocket,"  he  declared. 
"  And  if  there  is  any  more  gold,  it  is  either  in  that 
gulch  or  this,  and  1  am  half  inclined  to  think  it  is  over 
there,  although  we  may  as  well  prospect  this  gulch 
thoroughly  first." 

By  the  morrow  the  washings  from  the  pocket  came 
to  an  end,  with  four  more  ounces  of  gold  to  the  credit 
of  the  prospectors,  making  in  all  a  find  of  about  five 
hundred  dollars.     Previous  to  going  into  camp  it  had 


DKJCJINC.    FOR    GOLD. 


175 


been  decided  that  tor  the  present  everything  found 
should  be  divided  into  live  parts,  one  to  go  to  the  cap- 
tain, one  to  tlie  doctor,  and  three  to  Foster  Portney  for 
liiniself  and  his  nephews.  The  Portney  share,  as  we 
know,  was  to  be  divided,  one-lialf  to  Mr.  Portney  and 
one-cjuarter  to  each  of  the  boys.  Thus  the  boys  re- 
ceived each  three-twentieths  of  the  entire  amount 
found ;  not  a  hirge  portion,  but  then  they  had  nothing 
to  pay  out  for  expenses,  wliich  were  bound  to  be  con- 
siderable, and  each  was  perfectly  willing  that  his  uncle 
should  have  the  one-tenth  extra  of  the  whole  amount 
on  that  account. 

"  Three-twentieths  of  live  hundred  dollars  is  seventy- 
five  dollars,"  said  liandy  to  Earl,  when  they  were  alone. 
"  We've  each  earned  that,  free  and  clear,  so  far.  That's 
not  bad." 

"  If  only  we  can  continue,  we'll  make  our  fortunes," 
replied  Earl,  earnestly.  "  But  the  pocket's  at  an  end, 
and  now  we've  got  to  prospect  elsewhere." 

The  days  went  by,  and  they  tried  the  first  of  the 
gulches  from  end  to  end,  sometimes  working  together, 
and  then  each  man  and  boy  for  himself.  But  though 
they  struck  gold  often  it  was  never  in  paying  quan- 
tities, and  the  end  of  the  week  saw  them  somewhat 
discouraged. 

"  It  wouldn't  be  so  bad,  only  we  made  such  a  fine 
start,"  grumbled  Randy.  "  Now  there's  no  telling 
when  we  shall  find  gold  again." 


'i^fi 


St 


i'Mi''-'.-' 


im 


^i-:f 


a^W  "•»•."  »l"l>«l«»i» 


li 


ill 


H     J 


1,1  ■ 


i  ii  ill 


i 


176 


TO   ALASKA    FOll   (JOLD. 


"That's  the  fortunes  o'  prospeetiii',"  siiid  the  ejip- 
tain.  "  It  may  be  we  won't  git  a  smell  o'  gold  in  the 
hull  district  ag'iii !  " 

"  I  move  we  try  that  other  guleh  on  Monday,"  put 
in  the  doctor.  "It's  full  of  loose  sand,  isn't  it?"  he 
went  on  to  Foster  I'ortney. 

"  Yes,  the  sand  and  gravel  are  fit  least  two  feet 
thick,"  was  the  answer.  ""J  believe  there  is  gold  there, 
as  1  said  before,  but  to  clear  off  the  brush  and  moss  will 
be  no  easy  task." 

"  We  came  out  here  for  work,"  said  Earl.  "  I  didn't 
expect  to  sit  around  and  sun  myself."  And  all  laughed 
at  this  remark. 

It  was  Sunday,  and  late  on  Saturday  night  a  miner 
had  been  around  announcin<j:  a  reliLjious  meetin<^  to  be 
held  over  at  the  Bottom  at  noon.  Mv.  l^ortney,  the 
boys,  and  the  doctor  walked  over,  nearly  half  a  mile, 
leaving  the  captain  in  chai'ge  of  the  camp.  'I'hey 
found  about  fifty  miners  collected  around  an  impro- 
vised platform,  where  an  earnest-looking  young  man 
was  reading  a  chapter  from  his  Bible.  A  song  by 
three  of  the  women  present  followed,  and  then  came 
a  short  sermon  on  the  brotherhood  of  man  and  the 
value  of  a  faith  which  would  carry  a  man  above  the 
temptation  to  do  wrong,  even  in  that  desolate  region. 
At  the  close  of  the  service  a  collection  was  taken  up,; 
for  the  preacher's  benefit,  some  of  the  miners  giving 
ordinary   money,  and  others   pouring   gold   dust   into 


DKJGINr.    FOK   fiOLD. 


177 


the  littlo  cluiniois  ba<^  the  [n-t'jiL'lier  luid  provicU'd  lor 
tluit  purpose. 

At  this  meetinj^  tlie  Portneys  ajjfsiin  met  the  Wod- 
ley  crowd,  wlio  had  hx-atcd  alxmt  a  mile  u[)  (Jold 
Bottom  Creek,  at  a  phiee  called  lv()si!l)ud,  a  name  par- 
ticularly inappropriate,  since  no  roses  were  to  be  found 
in  the  vicinity.  Wodley  and  his  companions  were 
doing  fairly  well,  and  thoui,dit  the  '"doctor's  Hock" 
might  do  worse  than  to  locate  just  above  them. 

"  We'll  remeinber  that,"  said  Foster  I'ortney.  "  l>ut 
first  we  are  going  to  try  again  over  wiiere  we  are." 

Wodley  had  heard  again  from  'I'om  lloland  and 
Guardley.  He  said  the  gang,  as  he  termed  it,  which 
they  luid  joined  had  gone  up  Iluidvcr  Creek  and  staked 
out  three  claims  somewhere  al)ove  Discovery,  as  the 
first  claim  on  a  creek  or  gulch  is  called.  The  claims 
had  overlapped  some  already  staked  out,  and  the 
miners  in  that  section  had  had  several  lights  and  had 
threatened  to  drive  out  all  the  newcomers  if  they 
did  not  do  what  was  right. 

"  I  was  going  over  to  Hunker  Creek  myself,"  con- 
cluded Wodley.  "  But  I  don't  want  to  (]uarrel  with 
anybody." 

Monday  morning  found  the  entire  l^ortney  crowd 
over  to  Tangle  Gulch,  as  Mr.  Portney  christened  it. 
It  was  a  name  well  chosen,  for  the  tangle  of  bushes, 
vines,  and  moss  was  "•  simply  out  of  sight,"  so  Earl 
said,  although  as  a  matter  of  fact  it  was  very  much  in 

N 


II 


■I 

v: 


m^ 


m 


ITS 


TO    ALASKA     roit    COLD. 


sii^lil  — tliiit  iiiitl  iiolliiiiLif  clsr.  No  ()in»  could  move  I'or- 
Wiircl  more  than  a  yard  hcfort^  liaviiii,'  (o  stop  (o  looscui 
liiiiisi'ir,  cillu!!'  iVoiii  tiic  Ixislii's  and  vines  or  tlio  (diii^- 
iii,<<f  moss,  and  muck  itiidcr  tlic  moss.  And  to  add  to 
llicir  discond\)r(  tlicy  stirred  up  a  U'^ion  of  m(>s(|ui- 
t(H\s,  n'nats,  and  black  llius,  uhiidi  iit)veri!d  over  their 
heads  like  a  cloiid. 

''  Let  us  hurn  the  hrnsh  first  of  all,"  said  the  doctor, 
when  at  last  the  middle  of  tlu;  i^nlch  was  reached. 
"'I'hat  will  clear  the  surface  and  scatter  those  pests 
overhead.  Oh,  my!"  lie  broke  off  sliort  as  he 
went  (h)\vn  intt)  a  concealed  water  hoU?  wiiiclj  was 
several  feet  deej).  "•  Here's  another  of  tiie  pleasurt^s 
of  huntin«if  ij^old  in  Alaska  !  "  and  this  was  said  so 
comically  that  everybody  roared. 

Axes  and  knives  had  been  brought  alonj^,  and  soon 
a  hirijfe  i)ile  of  the  brush  iiad  been  cut  Jind  piled  in  a 
heap  and  set  on  lire.  As  it  was  green,  it  burnt  slowly 
and  raised  a  large  smoke,  which  made  the  mosquitoes 
scatter  innnediately.  From  that  day  niitil  the  end  of 
the  summer  they  kept  a  smudge  lire  for  protection. 
The  brush  cleared  from  the  sides  of  the  gulch,  which 
was  very  narrow,  they  went  at  the  tundra,  throwing 
the  moss  wherever  it  would  be  out  of  the  way.  This 
took  a  long  time,  and  it  was  not  until  almost  nightfall 
that  they  got  down  to  the  sand  and  gravel  of  the 
choked-up  watercourse. 

"Now  well  see  if  there  is  anything  in  this  gulch  or 


B 


i)i(j(;iN(;   roll  coM). 


171) 


not,"  Hiii«l  Mm  ciipliiiii,  us  In;  sc^oojumI  up  tlii!  lirst  jKinfiil 

oil'    tllO    lK'(ll(K'k.        "  If    thcMl!   iHu't,   tlujll   Wc'vu  IukI   IMOSt 

sill-(ircMl  liiiid  work  fcr  niilhiir,  tOi '/ "  And  ho  stiuliMl 
ill  to  wji.sh  up  the  .siiud,  ^rmvul,  luid  dirt,  while  tho  others 
looi<cd  on  in  l)rt'iitld(!ss  intcMHsst. 


■ 

1  or 

^ 

1 

^■:i 


■iin 


n 


:i!' 


fW' 


» 

■1 . 1  i 


SI 

d 


I 


ClIAITKlt    Will. 


GOOD    LUCK    AND    I5AI). 


As  ihii  capliiiii  wiiiilutl  to  savc^  evury  jTmin  of  «,^ol(l 
ill  ilic  piin,  lie  waslunl  very  ciiri'lully,  and  it  was  Inlly 
live  inimitcs  ))t'foi'o  lla;  last  of  Ihu  saiul  ami  dirt  was 
dispost'd  of  iind  tliey  could  t'oim;  to  a  caUudation  as  to 
tli(!  valMu  of  tliu  }«.dl(AV  iiiL'tal  left. 

For  i^old  tluM'o  was,  true  cnou^li,  shiniiit;"  hri^litly 
before  tlair  eyes  —  and  tliere  was  more  than  tiiis,  too, 
for  sonm  of  it  was  of  a  l>la(;kisli  eolor.  The  others 
eouUl  not  helieve  in  the  value  of  this  until  Foster  I'ort- 
ney  assured  them  that  he  had  fre(|U('Utly  heard  of  blaek 
gold  being  turned  up  in  the  Yukon  distriet. 

"Half  an  ounee  at  least,"'  was  the  verdict  arrived  at 
by  both  the  captain  and  Mr.  I*ortney  ;  "  and  that's  eight 
dollars." 

"  Then  we  had  better  stay,  hadn't  we  ?  "  said  Karl. 

"  Why,  of  course,  llarl ;  you  didn't  expect  to  do 
much  better  than  that,  unless  you  struck  nuggets." 

'■'•  One  fellow  over  to  (lold  JJottom  said  he  was  tak- 
ing out  a  hundred  dollars  to  the  panful,"  put  in  Randy. 

"  Fairy  stories,  my  lad,"  answ^ered  the  captain.     "  A 

180 


T) 


r,  i 


ill 

rht 


do 


C'OOI)    MKMv     AM)    HAD. 


ISl 


cLiiin  a.s  will  turn  out  ci'ji'lit  dollars  to  tlio  pan  is  luiL^dity 
good  —  as  good  as  I'm  a-Iookiu'  for  just  now." 

"And  we  haven't  gone  very  far  into  this  gulch," 
put  in  the  doetoi*.     '"It  may  he  hcttcr  further  up." 

*' And  it  maybe  worse,"  sai<l  b'nstrr  Portney,  "al- 
though I'm  inclined  to  think  it  will  i>e  better.  We 
had   b(!st  stake  out  our  claims  without  (hday." 

This  was  readily  agreed  to,  and  before  they  went 
back  to  th(5  tents  they  h;"1  staked  out  three  claims, 
one  for  each  of  the  mc^n.  Kurl  migiit  have  taken  u])  a 
claim,  too,  being  just  old  cnou'rh,  l)Ut  tiie  three  covered 
all  the  ground  whicli  the  party  tlioiight  of  any  account. 
Each  claim  was  live  hundrc  d  I'eet  long  and  tlu^  u]>per 
one  covered  both  gulches,  which  was  an  excc.'llcnt  thing, 
as  it  would  giv(;  them  a  fail-  amoiuit  of  wat(;r  by  which 
to  (h)  their  washing.  'I'he  posts  firmly  plantiid  and 
marked,  they  walked  slowly  back  to  camp,  talking  over 
the  prospects  and  nia})ping  out  their  future  work. 

It  was  decided  to  move  the  tents  to  a  more  conven- 
ient locality,  and  a  spot  was  readily  found  at  a  point 
al)Ove  where  the  two  gulches  joined,  or  rather  where 
the  one  gulch  s[)lit  into  two.  The  ti'ansfer  to  this  new 
home-spot  was  ma<le  the  next  day  by  Earl,  Handy,  nnd 
the  doctor,  Mr.  Portney  and  the  captain  g<»ing  back  to 
uncover  several  other  portions  of  the  claims,  to  ascer- 
tain, if  possible,  just  what  their  values  might  be. 

The  next  week  was  a  busy  oni'.  The  camp  removed 
and  put  into  comfortable  shiiptr,  the  next  work  was  to 


til 


i    f     S  V- 


■  i 
if- 


ISV! 


h)  AiVMKA   Kon  <i(H,i». 


«linn  up  tlio  ^«'nl('li  vnIitip  (ii<>  |i(m>Iv«<I  IhhI  Immmi  roiitHi,  mm 
llitil  itll  llti«  \Viili>r  iiii!',lii  (low  lliiitu|;;li  M(iM<|iiili)  llul 
low,  !)s  tli(«  (lot>(i«r  liml  l;itM>t  iiMiMl\  ihiMicil  lli«<  iipw 
il»>;v;in>VM.  n  miiiio  (liiil  mIiuK  lo  i(.  TliiM  work  whm 
<loiio  h\  l\;m(l\  :nt(l  I>r.  IliiivMiil  Im',  \vIiiI(<  Mini 
joiiuMl  tho  ciiptitiM  tiixl  Ills  niii'lo  in  hnniiiii;-  liowii 
tho  hiMsh  Miul   s;«'(li«i>;   ri«l   ol'   (lie   Inmlni. 

nolt>i't>  lurniiij';  [\\v  wutrr  iVoin  rrosprr  (Jiilrli  iiiln 
Mostjuilo  Hollow,  l'\>NhM'  Torliu'v  lulviHcd  Hiiikinj^ 
s«'\«Mal  holos  mIohjV  the  liilliM-  j;;ulrii,  (liiU  niiy  ^old 
\\iisl\t>d  alom;;  '»v  \\\o  \\o\\  woiiM  ho  «'imi;lil .  TIk*  «'iip- 
tain  put  ihrsr  (low  n.  !Mm1  thru  fiimo  1Im<  loti)^;  liihor  ol' 
rU';\i\m>»'  thr  siiiul  Miul  »lirt  I'iamm  IIio  ImmItoi-Iv  Ix'Iow. 
As  i(  wouKl  \\,\\o  takon  mII  siiiiniuM'  (o  cKmiii  out.  (lu) 
iMUiro  botU>m  ol"  llu»  sjulrli,  only  iho  <l(M«piM'  purl.  wiiH 
iUtiU'koil  i\\u\  luMv  M  runway  l\)r  (ho  wulor  was  uuulo,  a 
\oo\  to  tMi>  loot  witlo. 

Tho  wator  \\'m\  just  hoiMJ  turuiMl  alon^  MoM(piil() 
Hi^llow  auvl  washiui;"  ht\!;nu  whou  a  parly  of  proHpoo- 
tors  (vom  Forty  Mih*  Post  oanu^  alonu;'  and  ospiod  (lu) 
olaiuis.  Thoy  at  ouco  w  ishoil  to  know  tlu^  parlioulars 
ot"  tl\o  tind  uiado.  aiui,  assuriMl  (hat  (hiu'i^  was  p;oU\ 
tlioro,  ono  of  (ho  mou  h>st  no  tiiuo  in  puttinjj^  up  Iuh 
stakos  bolow  thoui,  wliiU*  two  t)ti»ors  wont  abovo.  In- 
side of  a  wook  aftor  this  tlio  UoUow  boastetl  of  oi^^ht 
oh\ims,  and  a  littlo  sottUnuont  spruiifjf  up  at  tho  Fork, 
a^  tho  minors  named  tho  spot  whore  tlie  l*ortiioy  crowd 
had  located. 


<.Mii|)    |,t  (K     ANI»    IIAI>. 


I8fl 


ffl 


*'  We'll  liiiv*'  II  louii  Ih'ic  licroic  I  In-  MHirirrMT  Im  nvr,'* 
Miiiil  I'/in  I  ;  IhiI  Im*  uiin  iimI  nony  lo  litivc  <  (iiii|i)iiiy,  »'M|(C- 
(•illlly   IIM    I  lie    IM'VVCdIlM'IM    WK-    )|  II    ll)lil    IVIIovvM-well    m«!l, 

HIhI    ll|)|tlll  rill  I  V    IiuIH'mI      to     lilt'     ('(MC  AlMMIIt^     Ill'-IM    VV«I>1 

n.  yiHiiijr  liiwyi  lioin  |)jil<(»hi,  iind  I'  und  |)i,  l»>ir- 
Wiiil  lie  HOMii  licriiiiic  III"'  u'iit  iiMnl  f»l   IimimIh. 

'I'lin  hIioiI  Alii'iLii,  Miiiiiiiicr  wii'i  now  rciirliiiij^  itH 
liri^lil,  itiiij  IImwcim  iiikI  I»<  riicH  vvic  |mowiii(^  cvf  y- 
wlicrn  ill  llm  vviliJrMl  |ir(»riiMi(»ii,  vvliih-  »liiiiii}^  llm  Mii'MIe, 
m1'  I  lie  (liiy  I. In-  huh  l»('ii,|.  dftvvii  mo  Ui-vccly  lliiil.  l.lic.y  wf.ro 
oricii  ('(iiiiiM'lliMJ  jo  Hcc|(   I  lie  Mli;Mle  lor  Iioiiih  ;i,I.  ;i,  liirie,. 

''My  )^n'ar,i(HiM,  llm  Hollow  in  like  ji,  pepper  hox!" 
Hiiid  KiMidy  one;  (hiy,  iih  lie.  e;uiie.  inl.o  eii.nip  vvitli  lii.s 
HJiiil.  wi'l  l.liroii|^di  vvilli  jxiinpiniljon.  "  Nol,  a  l>re,ii,t,li 
ol"  iiir  Hl.iri'iii)^'." 

"  Aim!  I  Ik;  lioller  il,  Im,  I. lie,  vvorne  I  he  Ilie.H  ;ue,"  ;i,.lded 
ICarl.  "  I  (ieeliiie,  l.lM!y  H(;eiii  to  l>ot,lier  /ne,  ludic,  tlian 
oven  llie  iiioHfjililoeM." 

IlHiially  il,  ('ooled  olT  lovvii.rd  seven  or  eif^dit  o'e.lo(;k, 
iwmi  l.lioil^di  tlie  Hiin  Hiill  .slione,  well  ii|>  in  thf;  nky,  but 
this  nij^iil.  ju'oved  aH  warm  an  tin;  »hi.y  liar)  l>e<;/i,  and 
moHl,  of  tlic-  pii.rl,y  weni,  t,o  .sle,ej>  outdorj/H,  un;i.hi(;  to 
Htaiid  it  iiiHid(!  ol"  tin;  closf;  t<:nt,H.  ()ut.sid<;,  thf;y  had 
to  wind  their  iKtad.s  and  ncekH  in  ino.sfjiiito  n«;ttin^  and 
cover  up  their  liandH,  to  ke';p  from  heinj.^  pchterod  to 
death.  It  was  the  most  uneomforlahh.'  twenty-four 
lionrH  they  liad  yet   \}\»i  in. 

"The    old     Harry    take    AlaHka*"     burst    out    Dr. 


(r 


I 


184 


TO   ALASKA    FOIl   (JOLD. 


]^ 


i 


I 


i^    '< 


I»iir\vaithe,  finally.  (hm  mosquito  liad  alij^litetl  on 
liis  nose,  and  two  otiiurs  on  liis  neck.  "It's  worth  all 
the  gold  you  cjin  get,  and  more,  too,  to  stand  these 
impudent  pests.  Oh  ! "  And  making  half  a  dozen 
wild  slashes  he  finally  scrambled  up  and  ran  around 
the  tents  to  throw  his  tormentoi's  off. 

Tlie  captain  was  suffering  from  a  slight  attack  of 
scurvy,  brought  on  by  eating  so  much  salt  food.  The 
doctor  had  given  him  some  medicine^  but  this  did  little 
good,  and  the  captain  was  gt^tting  into  a  bad  way  when 
one  of  the  old  miners,  who  had  just  come  in,  came  to 
his  aid. 

"  Eat  tomatoes,  cap'n,""  he  said.  "  Best  thing  on 
airth  fer  scurvy,  liill  Watson  wuz  down  with  it  wust 
way  an'  nuthin'  licl[)cd  him  but  tomatoes.  He  e.at  'most 
a  bushel  o'  'em,  an'  they  made  a  new  man  o'  him.  Eat 
tomatoes." 

"  Tomatoes  may  be  very  good,"  said  the  doctor. 
"•  They  are  a  very  strong,  green  vegetable,  you  know. 
Vou  might  try  them." 

And  the  captain  did  try  them,  first  using  up  some  of 
the  cans  brought  along,  and  then  buying  a  ([uart  of 
fresh  tomatoes  at  Dawson  City,  for  two  dollars.  Sure 
enough,  the  tomatoes  helped  wonderfully,  and  about  a 
week  later  the  scurvy  left  him. 

Nearly  a  month  had  now  ])assed  since  the  party  had 
located  at  Moscjuito  Hollow,  and  in  that  time  they  had 
taken  out   three  snudl   nuggets  worth   probably  fifty 


GOOD   LUCK   AND  BAD. 


185 


dollars  apiece,  and  a  little  short  of  a  hundred  and  fifty 
ounces  of  gold  dust.  Counting  the  gold  dust  as  worth 
sixteen  dollars  an  ounce,  this  gave  them,  in  round 
figures,  twenty-five  hundred  dollars  for  their  labor. 

"  Twenty-five  hundred  dollars  !  "  said  Earl.  "That's 
a  good  deal  more  than  we  could  earn  at  liome." 

Captain  Zoss  gave  a  deep  sigh  and  shook  his  head. 
"I  ain't  satisfied,"  he  said.  "1  didn't  come  up  to 
Alaska  to  work  fer  no  five  hundred  a  month.  I'm 
goin'  elsewhar  fer  luck." 

"  You  won't  stay  here  ?  "  asked  Rjindy,  quickly.  He 
had  begun  to  like  the  captain  very  much. 

"  No,  lad  ;  I'm  yere  to  make  a  fortune  or  nuthin'.  I 
quit  the  hollow  ter-morrow." 

"  Well,  you  have  that  right,  captain,  although  I'm 
sorry  to  see  you  go,"  said  Foster  Portney. 

"  Which  means  thet  you  an'  the  boys  stay,"  answered 
the  captain,  quickly.  "  I'm  sorry  ye  won't  go  with  me. 
I  want  ter  try  Hunker  Creek." 

"  I  think  I'll  stay,"  said  Foster  Portney,  quietly. 
"  I'll  give  the  gulch  a  few  weeks  longer,  for  the  way  I 
look  at  it  we're  making  wages  and  have  the  chance  to 
make  a  strike.     What  do  you  say,  boys?  " 

Randy  was  in  for  following  the  captain,  but  a  look 
from  Earl  made  him  change  tlie  words  on  the  end  of 
his  tongue.     "  I'll  do  as  you  think  best,  Uncle  Foster." 

"  And  so  will  I,"  said  Earl. 

Then  they  looked  at  the  doctor,  who  was  kicking  the 


f 

1 

1 

1 

!P 

1 

!■■ 

i 

r-|  1 

• ''! 

1  'i 

..At 


;;i 


■■'  i!i 


186 


TO    ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


V  i 


toe  of  his  boot  ag.ainst  the  tent  pole  in  speculative  way. 
It  was  several  seconds  before  the  medical  man  spoke. 

"I  —  I  think  I'll  go  with  ihe  captain,"  he  said 
finally.  "Not  but  that  I  hate  to  part  company,"  he 
added  hastily.  "  But  I  came  up  here  to  make  a  big 
hit,  and  if  I  wanted  to  work  for  what  we've  been  mak- 
ing here,  I  could  get  it  easier  by  going  into  Dawson 
City  and  hanging  out  my  shingle  —  you  all  know  that. 
I  hope  we  part  the  best  of  friends." 

"  We  will,"  said  Foster  Portney.  "  We'll  divide  our 
gold  as  per  agreement,  and  also  the  outfits." 

"  And  I'll  give  you  my  share  of  this  gulch  free,"  said 
the  captain,  and  the  doctor  said  the  same. 

Of  this,  however,  Foster  Portney  would  not  hear. 
He  insisted  on  paving  each  of  them  a  hundred  dollars, 
and  drawing  up  regular  papers,  which  were  signed  in 
the  presence  of  two  of  the  outside  miners.  On  the  day 
following  the  doctor  and  the  captain  packed  up  their 
traps,  hired  four  Indians  to  help  them,  and  set  off,  first 
however,  giving  Mr.  Portney  and  each  of  the  boys  a 
hearty  handshake.  In  a  few  minutes  they  were  out  of 
sight. 

"  And  now  to  work  the  Hollow  for  all  it  is  worth," 
said  Foster  Portney,  when  they  were  left  alone.  "  And 
remember,  from  henceforth,  whatever  v.^  turn  up  be- 
longs to  us  and  to  nobody  else." 


Mi  r 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 


fm 


AN   UNLOOKED-FOR   ARRIVAL. 


»» 


Although  the  boys  missed  Dr.  liarwaithe  and 
Captain  Zoss  greatly,  there  was  much  of  satisfaction  in 
the  thought  that  their  uncle  had  expressed;  namely, 
that  henceforth  whatever  was  taken  out  of  the  three 
claims  on  Mosquito  Hollow  gulch  would  belong  to 
them  and  to  nobody  else. 

"Of  course,  we  can't  expect  to  do  as  much  work  as 
was  done  before,"  was  the  way  Earl  reasoned.  ''  But 
we  are  just  as  liable  as  ever  to  make  a  big  strike." 

During  the  following  week  the  weather  turned  off 
somewhat  cooler,  and  this  made  work  easier  and  more 
rapid.  All  three  went  at  it  with  a  will,  and  the  six 
days  brought  in  six  hundred  dollars  in  dust. 

"  That's  a  hundred  and  lifty  apiece  for  us,  Earl," 
said  Randy,  after  figuring  up.  "  It  beats  lumbering 
down  in  Maine  all  hollow,  doesn't  it  ?  " 

"  I'll  tell  you  better  after  we've  gone  through  a  win- 
ter up  here,  Randy.  From  ail  accounts  the  weather  is 
something  awful,  and  we've  got  to  stand  it,  for  getting 
away  is  out  of  the  question  after  the  first  of  Sep- 
tember." 

187 


In 


Ill 


.Mi 


f  i 


in 


188 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


"Well,  let's  not  anticipate  trouble.  I  guess  Uncle 
will  see  that  we  are  as  well  provided  for  as  possible," 
answered  Randy,  who  could  think  of  nothing  but  the 
gold  dust  brought  in  daily. 

So  far  they  had  done  all  their  washing  with  ■  hand 
pans.  Foster  Portney  had  tried  to  obtain  a  cradle,  or 
a  "  Long  Tom,"  but  had  failed.  Now  he  announced 
his  intention  to  go  over  to  the  saw-mill  at  Dawson  and 
buy  the  necessary  boards  for  several  sluice  boxes.  He 
left  on  Friday,  stating  he  would  probably  not  return 
before  Monday  or  Tuesday. 

The  week  had  brought  a  number  of  newcomers  to 
the  vicinity,  who  had  staked  claims  on  other  gulches 
within  a  radius  of  half  a  mile.  Some  of  these  late 
arrivals  had  come  over  the  mountain  pass,  while  the 
majority  had  taken  the  longer  route  up  the  Pacific 
Ocean  and  the  Yukon.  The  Fork  seemed  to  be  a 
favorite  camping  ground,  and  there  were  times  when 
as  many  as  a  score  of  tents  were  pitched  there. 

One  of  the  newcomers  was  from  Hunker  Creek,  and 
he  brought  news  of  the  doctor  and  the  captain.  The 
pair  had  staked  two  claims  some  distance  above  Dis- 
covery and  were  doing  fairly  well,  although  they  had 
by  no  means  struck  it  as  rich  as  anticipated. 

It  was  on  Saturday  evening,  when  Randy  and  Earl 
were  busy  washing  out  some  of  their  underwear  —  for 
they  of  course  had  to  play  their  own  washerwoman  — 
that  news  was  brought  to  them  that  there  was  a  young 


AN  UNLOOKED-FOR    AIllUVAL. 


189 


fellow  down  at  a,  camp  Lelow  who  luid  expressed  a  de- 
sire that  Randy  or  Earl  come  to  see  him. 

"  He  ain't  give  no  name,  but  lie's  a  slim-bnilt  chap 
an'  don't  look  like  lie  was  cut  out  fer  rouc^hing  it,"  said 
the  messenger.  *'  He's  half  sick,  and  he  was  grub- 
struck  when  me  and  my  pard  picked  him  up." 

"A  slim-built  chap  —  "began  Randy,  when  Earl 
broke  in  :  "  It's  Fred  Dobsoii,  the  crazy  fool  !  " 

"Fred  !  "  cried  Randy.  He  turned  to  the  messenger 
and  asked  the  miner  to  give  him  a  better  description  of 
the  boy;  but  this  was  not  forthcoming,  and  he  hurried 
off  with  the  man,  leaving  P2arl  in  charge  of  the  tent. 

The  camp  below  was  (quarter  of  a  mile  away,  over  a 
hill  thick  with  blackberry  bushes,  liut  something  like 
a  trail  had  been  tramped  down  from  the  Fork,  and  it 
did  not  take  the  two  long  to  cover  the  distance.  .  They 
had  just  come  over  the  hill  in  sight  of  several  tents 
when  Randy  beheld  somebody  get  up  from  a  seat  on  a 
fallen  log  and  totter  toward  him. 

"  Randy  Portney  !  "  It  was  Fred  Dol)son's  voice, 
but  so  thin  and  hollow  Randy  scarcely  recognized  it. 
"  Oh,  how  glad  I  am  to  see  somebody  I  know  !  " 

"  Fred !  Kow  in  the  world  did  you  get  up  here  !  " 
burst  out  Randy.  He  took  the  hand  of  the  squire's 
son,  and  led  the  way  back  to  the  seat.  "  How  thin  and 
pale  you  look !  I  thought  you  had  gone  back  to 
Basco  !  " 

Fred  heaved  a  deep  sigh.     Then  he  looked  Randy 


1h 

I  • 
•I 


¥^ 


li! 


190 


TO   ALASKA    FOIl    (lOLD. 


I:: 


full  in  the  face  for  Ji  moment.  His  eyes  were  moist, 
and  he  tried  in  vain  to  keep  hack  the  tears.  Hut  it 
was  impossihle,  and  throwing  his  head  on  Randy's 
shoulder,  he  wept  like  a  child. 

The  tears  touched  Uandy  to  the  heart,  and  he  cauglit 
the  thin  hands  and  pressed  them  warmly.  "  Nev(u* 
mind,  Fred,"  he  said.  "  Now  you  are  up  here  I'll  do 
what  I  can  for  you.     So  let  up  and  tell  me  your  story." 

It  was  several  minutes  before  Fred  could  do  this. 
"  I  came  up  by  the  way  of  the  Chilkoot  Pass,"  he  said, 
when  he  felt  able  to  sjieak.  "  I  joined  a  party  I  met 
in  Juneau,  a  crowd  of  men  from  Chicago,  and  they 
promised  to  see  me  through  if  I  would  do  my  share  of 
work.  But  the  work  was  too  hard  for  me,  and  they 
treated  me  like  a  dog,  and  at  Baker's  Creek  they 
kicked  me  out  of  camp  and  compelled  me  to  shift  for 
myself." 

''  How  long  ago  was  this  ?  " 

"  A  week  ago.  Since  that  time  I've  been  knocking 
around  from  pillar  to  post,  looking  for  something  I 
could  do,  so  as  to  earn  at  least  enough  to  eat.  I  did 
get  one  job  in  Dawson  City  washing  dishes  in  the  res- 
taurant, but  even  there  the  food  the  boss  wanted  me  to 
eat  was  more  than  I  could  stand,  as  it  was  nothing  but 
leavings." 

"  And  when  did  you  hear  of  us  ?  " 

"  Yesterday.  I  struck  a  miner  named  Wodley  and 
he  gave  me  your  directions.     Oh,  Randy,  what  a  fool  I 


>1 


AN    lNL«>tUvi:i>F<H;    AlrlUVAL. 


101 


was  to  come  to  Alaska  !  If  only  I  IkuI  taken  your  ad- 
viee  and  j^one  baek  to  liasco  !  "  And  it  was  only  by 
an  eft'ort  that  Fred  Dobson  ke[)t  himself  from  crying 
anew.  He  felt  miseral)le,  weak,  and  hungry,  liad  had 
scarcely  a  kind  word  for  weeks,  and  was  on  the  point 
of  giving  up  in  despair. 

"•Do  your  parents  know  where  you  are?"  asked 
Randy,  after  another  pause. 

"  Yes,  I  wrote  to  them  just  l)cfore  leaving  Juneau  — 
I  couldn't  think  of  going  so  far  away  without  doing 
that." 

"  Well,  that  was  at  least  one  sensible  move,  Fred." 
Randy  thought  for  a  moment.  "  Our  camp  is  about 
half  a  mile  from  here,  over  that  hill.  Can  you  walk 
that  far  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  Randy ;  I  can  walk  a  good  way  now  I've 
found  a  friend."  Fred  arose  as  (juickly  as  he  could. 
"Are  you  and  your  friends  all  together  yet?" 

"No;  there  are  only  my  uncle,  Earl,  and  myself 
now." 

The  two  were  soon  on  the  journey  over  the  hill. 
Fred  was  still  rather  shaky,  and  Randy  gave  him  his 
arm  to  help  him  at  the  difficult  places.  When  they 
reached  camp,  Earl  had  all  the  washing  out  and 
everything  tidied  up. 

"  So  it  is  you,  Fred  ? "  he  said,  as  he  held  out  his 
hand.     "I  thought  you  back  in  liasco  by  this  time." 

"  I  only  wish  I  was  !     I  made  the  biggest  mistake 


*•   : 


u 


w 


192 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


of  my  life  when  I  ran  away,  so  there !  and  I  don't 
care  who  knows  it ! "  And  Fred  threw  himself  on  a 
bench  in  front  of  the  tent. 

"If  there  is  any  of  that  bean  soup  left,  you  had 
better  give  Fred  some,"  said  Randy,  with  a  knowing 
glance  which  did  not  escape  Earl.  "And  I'm  going 
to  fry  some  of  the  fish  I  caught  over  in  the  river 
last  night." 

Half  an  hour  later  the  wanderer  was  sitting  down 
to  as  appetizing  a  supper  as  he  had  tasted  since 
leaving  the  States.  While  he  ate  he  told  his  story 
in  detail,  to  which  Randy  and  Earl  listened  with 
much  interest.  That  Fred  had  had  a  hard  time  of 
it  there  could  be  no  doubt ;  and  tliat  he  had  learned 
a  lesson  he  would  never  forget  was  also  apparent. 

"If  there  was  only  some  way  of  getting  home,  I'd 
start  to-morrow,"  he  said.  "But  I'm  up  here  now, 
and  I've  got  to  do  for  myself  —  somehow."  He  looked 
wistfully  at  Earl  and  Randy.  "  Do  you  think  I  could 
make  some  kind  of  a  deal  with  your  uncle  to  keep 
me?  I  know  I  am  not  as  strong  and  hardy  as  you, 
but  I  can  do  something,  and  I  won't  look  for  any 
pay." 

"I  don't  know  what  uncle  will  say,"  said  Earl. 
"He  has  gone  to  Dawson,  and  won't  be  back  before 
Monday  or  Tuesday.  I  guess  you  can  stay  here  till 
that  time." 

"  Yes ;  and  if  he  won't  take  you  in,  I'll  help  you 


AN  unluokl:i)-fou  akkival. 


193 


)arl. 

jfore 

till 

you 


some,"  added  Randy.  "We've  been  more  fortunate 
than  you." 

Fred  was  curious  to  know  how  they  had  made  out, 
and  Earl  and  Randy  told  him.  He  was  ania/od  to 
think  they  had  done  so  well ;  and  his  face  brij^ditcned 
a  good  deal  when  he  remembered  how  iiamly  had 
said  he  would  help  him. 

Sunday  was  spent  in  camp.  Fred,  who  was  com- 
pletely tired  out,  slept  the  greater  part  of  the  (hiy, 
although  at  meal  times,  weak  as  he  was,  he  insisted 
on  washing  the  dishes  and  the  pots  and  kettles,  just 
to  show  that  he  was  in  earnest  about  working.  This 
made  Earl  and  Randy  smile  to  themselves. 

"Think  of  Fred  washing  dishes  like  that  at  home," 
whispered  Earl  to  his  brother.  "If  only  the  squire 
could  see  him  now,  I  guess  he'd  almost  forgive  him 
for  running  away !  " 

On  Monday  tlie  two  brothers  went  to  work  as  usual 
in  the  Hollow.  Fred  followed  them  over  and  was 
much  interested  in  their  labors.  Oiioo  he  tried  shov- 
elling up  the  sand  and  dirt,  but  Earl  told  him  he 
had  better  take  it  easy  and  get  back  his  strength  ; 
and  then  he  walked  back  to  the  tent,  to  spend  the 
balance  of  the  day  in  mending  his  clothing,  which 
was  sadly  in  need  of  repairs.  When  the  boys  came 
back,  he  had  supper  ready  for  them,  and  never  had 
they  had  a  meal  in  camp  that  was  l^ctter  cooked. 

"Cooking  was  the  cue  thing  I   learned  coming  up 


I'.   HI 


II  u 


, 


i 


194 


TO    ALASKA    KOII    iUMM, 


here,"  Fred  explained.  "Tlieic  was  a  nej^ro  in  tlie 
party  who  liad  heiMi  a  elu;f  in  a  Chieago  hotel;  and 
he  was  the  one  soul  in  the  crowd  that  treated  me 
half  decently." 

"  Perhaps  uncle  will  retain  you  as  cook,"  said  Handy, 
mischievously,  and  then  he  stopped  short,  for  he  did 
not  wish  to  hurt  Fred's  feelin_L(s.  'I'he  supper  passed 
off  pleasantly,  and  Fred  announced  that  he  felt  a 
hundred  times  better  than  the  day  previous. 

It  was  around  ten  o'clock,  and  the  sun  had  just 
set  over  the  mountains  to  the  westward,  leaving  the 
Hollow  in  an  uncertain,  pale-blue  light,  which  would 
last  until  sunrise  at  four,  when  a  messenger  on  mule- 
back  dashed  along  the  trail  from  (iold  Bottom. 
"  Thar's  a  lynchin'  goin'  on  down  to  Smedley's  I  "  he 
yelled,  as  he  sped  by.  "They've  caught  a  sneak  thief 
by  the  name  o'  (iuardley,  an'  they're  goin'  ter  make 
him  do  er  dance  on  nuthin'.  Better  be  gittin'  down 
thar,  if  ye  want  ter  see  justice  done !  " 


if    I  1 


CIIAPTKIl   XXV. 


t  i 


MOKE   WOlUv   IN    THE    (IIXCHES. 

"They  are  goincf  to  lynch  ii  fellow  named  Guard- 
ley  !  "  ejaculated  Karl.  *'  1  wonder  if  it  can  be  Jasper 
Guardley." 

"It  must  be  ;  it's  not  likely  there  is  another  (iuard- 
ley  up  here  —  the  name  isn't  as  common  as  all  that, 
returned  Randy.     "  Shall  we  go  ?  " 

Earl  hesitated.  There  was  something  appalling  in  a 
lynching,  to  his  mind.  Yet  he  was  curious  to  know 
more  of  the  crime  for  which  the  prisoner  was  about  to 
suffer. 

"  Yes,  we  might  as  well  —  if  Fred  will  watch  the 
camp,"  he  answered. 

"  I'll  watch  it  as  well  as  I  can,"  answered  Fred.  The 
work  he  had  been  doing  had  tired  him  more  than  he 
would  admit,  and  he  was  glad  enough  to  take  it  easy. 
He  knew  Guardley,  but  took  small  interest  in  the  man 
his  father  had  sent  up  more  than  once  for  petty  crimes. 

In  less  than  five  minutes  Earl  and  Kandy  were  off, 
stalking  over  the  hills  and  along  Gold  Bottom  Creek  as 
rapidly  as  tl  ''ir  tired  limbs  would  carry  them.     Smed- 

1»J6 


^  it 


;,1 

n 


•ri 


196 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


ley's,  a  settlement  of  twoscoro  of  tents  iind  one  lioard 
cabin  where  a  few  odds  and  ends  could  be  bon<,dit,  was 
nearly  two  miles  distance,  yet  tliey  arrived  tliere  in  less 
than  half  an  hour  —  fast  time  when  the  state  of  the 
trails  they  had  travelled  was  taken  into  consideration. 

They  found  that  the  prisoner  liad  been  bound,  hands 
and  fe(  t,  and  placed  in  the  storeroom  of  the  board 
cal)in,  a  little  shed  in  the  rear,  scarcely  eicflit  feet  by 
twelve  and  liardly  high  enout^h  for  a  man  to  stand  in. 
'I'wo  rough-looking  miners  were  on  guard,  one  Avith  a 
gun,  Piid  the  other  with  an  old-fashioned  horse-pistol 
over  a  foot  long. 

"  What  do  you  want  ?  "  demanded  one  of  the  miners 
of  Earl,  as  the  latter  pushed  his  way  forward  through 
the  fast-gathering  crowd.  "This  ain't  no  place  fer  a 
young  rooster  like  you." 

"  I  would  like  to  see  the  prisoner,  please,"  answered 
Earl.     "  I  think  1  know  him." 

"  You  ain't  the  feller's  pard,  are  ye  ?  "  demanded  the 
second  guard,  suspiciously. 

"  No.  I  am  from  Maine,  and  I  knew  a  Guardley  up 
tliere  who  came  to  these  diggings.  1  wanted  to  find 
out  if  it  was  the  same  man." 

"  Say,  is  tliat  Karl  l\3rtney  ?  "  came  from  within,  and 
both  Earl  and  Randy  recognized  Jasper  Guardley's 
voice.     "  If  it  is,  I'd  like  to  talk  to  him." 

"  Yes,  Guardley,"  answered  Earl.  "  What's  the 
trouble?" 


and 
[ley's 

the 


!  ^'  ^ 


f 


"I    WOII.U    I  IKE   TO    Sl.K    I  UK,    rRISONKK,    Vl  K.\SE."  --  /'d^'f  /(/>. 


f 


1 


B 


1 

n 


iii 


;  i  i 


MORE   AVORK   IN   THE   GULCHES. 


197 


"  Can't  you  come  in  and  talk  to  me  ?  " 

''  ril  come  in  if  the  guards  will  allow  it,"  and  Eaii 
looked  at  the  men. 

"Go  on  in;  but  leave  yer  gun  with  me,  if  yer  got 
one,"  was  the  reply,  from  the  man  who  had  lirst  ad- 
dressed Earl. 

"  I  haven't  any  i)istol,"  oaid  the  youth,  and  passed 
into  the  shed.  Randy  was  about  to  follow,  but  the 
guard  stopped  him.  "•  One's  enough,  my  lad ;  you 
wait  outside."  And  Randy  fell  back  into  the  crowd, 
which  kept  increasing  every  minute. 

From  those  around  him.  Randy  learned  that  Guard- 
ley  was  being  held  for  the  theft  of  eighty  ounces  of 
gold  dust,  which  had  been  buried  by  a  miner,  named 
Cozzins,  under  the  flooring  of  his  tent.  Cozzins  had 
missed  his  gold  tJiat  morning,  and  three  other  miners 
had  testified  to  seeing  Guardiey  sneaking  around  the 
place,  in  company  with  another  man,  presumably  Tom 
Roland.  Roland  and  the  gold  were  both  gone,  and 
Guardiey  had  been  "  collared  "  just  as  he  was  about  to 
leave  for  Dawson  City.  The  miners  around  Smedley's 
had  held  a  meeting,  and  it  was  likely  that  Guardiey 's 
crime  would  cost  him  his  life. 

"  For  you  see  we  ain't  got  nc  jails  here,"  explained 
one  miner.  "An'  to  leave  sech  a  measly  critter  run 
would  be  puttin'  a  premium  on  crime." 

When  Earl  came  out  of  the  shed  l.is  face  was  very 
pale,  and  he  was  on  the  point  of  passing  the  guards 


I 


198 


TO    ALASKA    Foil    COLD. 


without  a  word,  when  they  stopped  him.  "Well,  wot 
did  ye  make  out?"  demanded  one,  laconically. 

"He  says  he  didn't  take  the  gold  —  that  tlie  robhery 
was  planned  and  executed  by  his  partner.  It  is  awful 
to  think  of  taking  his  life." 

"It's  his  own  fault,  lad  —  he  should  have  thunk  o' 
those  things  afore  he  consented  to  help  on  the  job." 

"  When  will  they  —  they  —  " 

"Perform  the  ceremony?  I  reckon  some  time  be- 
tween now  an'  sunrise,  onless  the  crowd  changes  its 
mind.  They're  goin'  to  talk  it  over  agin  ez  soon  as  Coz- 
zins  comes  back.     He's  huntin'  fer  tliet  other  rascal." 

After  this  Earl  joined  Randy,  who  was  anxious  to 
hear  what  Guardley  had  had  to  say.  The  two  walked 
some  distance  away. 

"  I  believe  Tom  Roland  stole  the  gold,"  began  Earl, 
"  but  Guardley  was  willing  he  should,  and  he  remained 
on  guard  around  the  tent  while  Roland  dug  it  up,  so 
he's  just  as  guilty." 

"  But  to  take  his  life  —  "  shuddered  Randy. 

"  I  hope  they  change  their  minds  about  that.  And, 
by  the  way,  we  were  right  about  that  money  in  Boston. 
Roland  got  that,  and  he  had  that  lost  letter,  too. 
Guardley  admitted  it,  although  he  didn't  give  me  any 
particulars.  He  is  trying  to  lay  the  blame  of  every- 
thing on  Roland." 

A  shout  interrupted  tlie  conversation  at  this  point. 
Cozzins  had  come  back  after  an  exciting  but  fruitless 


i 


MOllK    WOIiK    IN    THE   (lULC^HES. 


191) 


chase.  At  his  appearance  the  scene  took  on  a  new  ac- 
tivity, and  the  wouUl-be  lynching  party  moved  to  the 
front  of  the  so-called  store,  where  half  a  dozen  tlaring 
torches  and  two  smoking  kerosene  lamps  lit  up  the  weird 
scene.  Here  Cozzins  told  his  story,  and  then  Guardley 
was  brought  out,  trembling  in  every  liml).  He  begged 
over  and  over  again  to  be  let  go,  and  his  earnestness 
had  its  effect  even  on  the  man  who  had  been  robbed. 
A  talk  lasting  a  (piarter  of  an  hour  followed,  and  then 
Guardley  was  given  his  choice  of  two  sentences,  —  the 
one  being  that  already  pronounced,  and  the  other  being 
a  whip-lashing  on  his  bare  back,  and  a  drumming  out 
of  the  camp,  with  the  warning  that  if  he  ever  showed 
up  there  again,  he  was  to  be  shot  on  sight.  With  a 
long  sigh  of  relief  he  chose  the  latter  punishment,  and 
was  ordered  to  strip,  while  Cozzins  prepared  for  his 
part  in  the  affair,  by  hunting  up  the  hardest  and 
strongest  rawhide  dog-whip  to  be  found. 

"  I  don't  want  to  see  the  whi[)ping,"  whispered 
Randy;  "let  us  go  home.  Poor  (iuardley  !  I  guess 
Cozzins  will  make  him  suffer  as  he  has  never  suffered 
before !  " 

"  I  hope  it  teaches  hiir  a  lesson  to  turn  over  a  new 
leaf,"  answered  i^^arl.  "  But  I'm  afraid  there  isn't  any 
reform  to  Guardley.  He  hasn't  even  enough  manliness 
to  shoulder  his  share  of  the  blame,  but  tries  to  put  it 
all  off  on  Roland.  Come  on."  And  they  turned  away 
without  another  word.     Before  they  were  out  of  hear- 


200 


TO  ALASKA  FOR  GOLD. 


ing  distance  of  the  camp,  a  shriek  rent  the  air,  telling 
that  Guardley's  punishment  had  already  begun. 

The  boys  had  expected  their  uncle  to  come  back  by 
Tuesday  as  told  ;  but  in  the  afternoon  one  of  the  miners, 
working  down  Mosquito  Hollow,  brought  word  from 
Dawson  City  that  Mr.  Portney  could  not  get  his  lumber 
for  two  or  three  days,  and  might  be  absent  the  remainder 
of  the  week  in  consequence.  So  there  was  nothing  to 
do  but  to  keep  on  working  at  the  claims  with  the  hand 
pans,  and  this  Randy  and  Earl  did,  Fred  helping  them 
as  far  as  he  was  able.  The  boy  who  had  been  so  ill- 
treated  and  half  starved  was  growing  stronger  rapidly, 
and  he  showed  a  willingness  to  do  even  the  most  disa- 
greeable things  which  was  as  astonishing  as  it  was 
gratifying. 

Friday  found  the  trio  working  up  along  a  little 
split  in  the  rocks  on  the  right  bank  of  the  gulch.  The 
split  was  not  over  two  feet  wide  by  twelve  feet  long,  and 
it  was  filled  with  gravel  and  muck,  with  here  and  there 
the  nest  of  a  field  mouse  among  the  tundra.  Earl  had 
suggested  clearing  out  the  split,  and  he  had  gone  in 
first  to  loosen  the  gravel  with  his  pick.  About  three 
loads  of  soil  had  been  removed  and  carted  down  to  the 
gulch  stream,  and  now  Earl  found  the  balance  of  the 
split  blocked  by  a  huge  rock. 

"  Doesn't  seem  to  amount  to  much,"  he  said,  throw- 
ing down  his  tools  to  mop  the  perspiration  from  his 
brow. 


^! 


MUUE   WORK   IN   THE   GULCHES. 


201 


"  Let  me  go  in  there,"  suggested  Fred,  and  caught 
up  the  pick.  Swinging  the  tool  over  his  shoulder,  he 
brought  it  down  with  all  force  at  a  spot  where  the  rock 
showed  a  slight  crack. 

"  Look  out,  or  you'll  break  that  pick  !  "  called  out 
Randy,  when  the  front  half  of  the  rock  fell  away,  and 
Fred  had  to  jump  up  to  avoid  having  his  feet  crushed. 
As  he  made  the  leap,  his  eyes  caught  sight  of  a  sur- 
face of  yellow  half  hidden  by  muck  and  moss.  He 
struck  at  it  with  the  pick,  and  out  came  a  nugget 
nearly  as  big  as  his  fist.  He  grabbed  it  up  in  a  trans- 
port of  delight. 

"  Look  !  look  !  A  nugget !  Oh,  what  a  big  fellow  ! 
How  much  do  you  think  it's  worth?"  he  cried;  and 
rubbed  the  muck  off  with  his  coat  sleeve.  "  It  looks 
as  if  it  was  solid  !  " 

"  It  is  almost  solid,"  said  Earl,  weighing  the  find  in 
his  hand.  "  It's  worth  two  or  three  hundred  dollars  at 
least."  And  then  he  added,  by  way  of  a  caution, 
"  You'll  have  to  remember,  Fred,  that  this  is  my 
uncle's  claim." 

"  Oh,  I  know  that.  But  it  ought  to  be  worth  some- 
thing for  finding  it,"  said  Fred,  wistfully. 

"  Certainly,  we'll  make  it  right." 

"  Of  course  we  will,"  added  Handy.  "  Let  us  see  if 
there  are  any  more  nuggets  in  there.  This  may  be  a 
pocket,  like  the  one  I  found  on  Prosper  Gulch."  He 
went  forward,  but  Earl  was  ahead  of   him,  and  was 


!3[ 


I 


202 


TO    AliASKA    KOIt    (}()|J>. 


tPl 


usiiii^  llio  picOc  with  all  llu?  sjx'ccl  aiid  skill  sit  his  com- 
mand. As  the  rcmaiiidtir  of  i\n)  rock  came  away,  a 
mass  of  sand,  j^ravcl,  and  dirt  followed. 

"Here  arc  four  small  nuj^^j^cls,"  said  Randy,  picking 
them  up.     '' Fifly-(h)llar  (inds,  every  one  of  them." 

Karl  said  nothinj^,  althonj^h  lie  heard  the  talk.  lie 
had  espied  a  c^lojun  of  dull  yellow  wedged  in  between 
the  side  of  the  split  and  a  second  rock.  lie  tried  to 
force  the  second  ro(^k  out,  and  as  it  moved  forward 
the  ji^leam  of  yellow  became  larj^er  and  larger,  until  his 
hand  could  not  have  covered  it.  lie  worked  on  franti- 
cally, hardly  daring  to  breathe.  At  last  the  rock  fell 
and  the  face  of  the  nugget  lay  reveahul,  shaped  very 
much  like  the  sole  and  heel  of  a  large  man's  shoe. 

"What  have  you  got?"  asked  Randy  and  Fred 
simultaneously,  seeing  something  was  up ;  but  Earl 
kept  right  on,  picking  aw  ay  below  the  find,  and  to  both 
sides.  It  seemed  to  him  the  thing  would  never  come 
out,  and  as  he  realized  how  large  the  nugget  was,  his 
hands  trembled  so  he  could  scarcely  hold  the  pick. 
"  I've  struck  a  fortune !  "  he  muttered,  at  last,  in  a 
strangely  hoarse  voice.  "  See  if  anybody  is  looking. 
Randy."  And  then  the  nugget  came  loose,  and  he 
clutched  it  in  both  hands  and  held  it  up,  —  a  dull, 
dirty,  yellowish  lump,  worth  at  least  three  thousand 
dollars  1 


>  .: 


coin- 
/ay,  a 


• 

itwoeii 
icd  to 
)r\vaiHl 
liil  liis 
fraiiti- 
ck  fell 
(1  very 

I 

J  • 

Fred 

t    Earl 

o  both 

r  come 

as,  Ills 

pick, 
in  a 
)okiii<jf, 

nd  he 
dull, 

usaiid 


CHAPTER  xxvr. 

SLUICE    FJOXKS  AND    JMIKI'A  IIATIONS    FOIl    WINTP^Il. 

A  NiuuM'yr  worth  three  thousand  dollars  was,  by 
far,  the  largest  find  yet  made  in  that  district,  and  the 
three  young  miners  could  scarcely  believe  it  true,  as 
they  surveyed  the  lump  in  Karl's  hands. 

"Do  you  suppose  it's  pure  gold?"  asked  Randy,  as 
he  took  it  from  his  brother.     "  It's  heavy  enough." 

"I  think  it's  almost  pure,"  said  Earl.  "We've 
struck  it  rich  this  time.  Be  sure  and  keej)  your  mouth 
shut,  both  of  you,  or  we'll  have  all  of  (iold  IJottom  up 
here,"  he  added.  "  We've  got  at  least  four  thousand 
dollars'  worth  of  stuff  out  of  there,  so  far,  and  goodness 
only  knows  how  much  more  there  is." 

"  Here  come  a  couple  of  miners  now,"  whispered 
Fred,  happening  to  glance  down  tlie  gulch.  He 
dropped  some  of  the  smaller  nuggets  into  his  pockets, 
while  Randy  took  care  of  the  rest.  Earl  let  the  large 
lump  fall  into  the  dirt  and  covered  it  up  with  tundra 
muck. 

"Well,  pards,  how  air  ye  makin'  it?"  asked  one  of 
the  miners,  as  he  halted  on  the  edge  of  the  gulch. 

203 


'  i 


1 1 


204 


TO   ALASKA    I'ow    (loLD. 


"Oil,  wo'n;  (loiiit^  riiii'ly  well,"  uiiswcred  Karl,  as 
coolly  as  lie  could,  although  still  liijL,dily  excited. 
''VVlicro  arc  you  houud?" 

'''riiouiifht  we'd  try  it  over  to  Hunker  Creek.  Some 
good  re[)orts  from  there  this  week." 

'*  So  Tve  heard,"  said  Uaiidy.  "•  I  wonder  if  it  would 
pay  us  to  go  over." 

'*  It  might  —  everyhody  has  an  equal  chance,  ye 
know,"  said  the  second  miniM-.  ^  Say,  do  ye  calkerlate 
to  git  anything  outer  thet  split?"  lie  went  on,  with  a 
look  of  disdain  on  his  face. 

*'l  thought  T  would  see  what  was  in  it,"  said  Earl. 
•'If  a  fellow  don't  try,  he'll  never  find  anything." 

"Ye  won't  git  nutliin'  out  o'  thar;  the  split  don't 
lay  right.  Better  go  up  to  the  top  end  o'  your  claim  ; 
ye'll  stand  more  chance  thar."  And  after  a  few  words 
more  the  two  miners  moved  off,  and  the  boys  breathed 
easier. 

"That  shows  what  he  knows  about  it,"  said  Earl, 
when  he  dared  to  broach  the  subject.  "  Wouldn't  lie 
open  his  eyes  if  he  knew  the  truth  ?  " 

"  And  wouldn't  he  be  in  for  squeezing  a  claim  right 
on  top  of  us?  "  added  Randy.  "  No ;  we  had  best  keep 
this  find  to  ourselves,  at  least  until  we've  found  just 
what  is  in  the  split  and  how  far  a^\  ay  from  the  gulch 
it  runs." 

"  Throw  all  the  nuggets  into  the  hole  over  yonder," 
said  Earl,  "and  cover  them  up.    We'll  take  them  to  the 


I   II 


I'KEI'AIIATIONS    KOll    WINTKU. 


20/5 


Earl, 
I't  lie 

right 

keep 

II  just 

I  gulch 

ider," 

to  the 


tent  to-iiiglil,  iiiid  hiiry  Ukmii  in  some  s;if(!  plju'O.  T'lii 
going  iilicii<l."  Ami  Ik;  hcgini  lo  pick  away  as  tlioiigli 
liis  lilc  (IfptMidc'd  upon  it,  wiiili!  Uaiidy  and  Vh'a[  w^cuit 
over  IJK!  sand,  gravul,  and  dirt  witli  their  hIiovoIs  and 
hands,  to  picdv  out  sonu;  small  nnggiits,  which  tliey 
found  to  tho  nundjci'  of  iorty-thrct!,  sonic  not  larger 
than  a  grain  of  rice,  and  others  the  size  of  coff(!e  hcans. 

"Here  is  another  lnin[),"  said  Karl,  presently,  and 
brought  out  a  thin  sheet  of  gold,  mixed  with  stone. 
*••  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  there  is  a  layer  of  quartz  rock 
somewhere  along  here,  although  1  don't  see  anything  of 
it  yet.  I  guess  this  lum|)  will  [)r()duce  thirty  or  forty 
dollars*'  worth  of  gold  nu)re.  l^retty  good  for  five  min- 
utes' work."  And  he  went  at  it  agaiu  with  renewed 
vigor,  scattering  the  sand  and  gravel  behind  him,  like 
u  mother  hen  looking  for  worms. 

An  hour  later  the  split  was  cleaned  out  so  far  as  it 
could  ])e  accomplished  with  the  tools  at  hand.  There 
remained  a  small  crack  still,  running  downward  three 
feet,  as  Earl  ascertained  by  testing  it  with  a  l)erry-bush 
switch.  What  there  might  be  at  tlie  bottom  of  the 
crack  there  was  no  telling,  although  it  nuist  contain 
some  gold,  if  only  in  dust.  Three  additional  nuggets 
had  been  unearthed,  one  as  large  as  a  pint  measure  and 
finer  in  appearance  than  any  of  the  rest.  Making  sure 
they  were  not  observed,  the  lirst  nuggets  were  again 
brought  forth,  and  each  took  a  i)ortion  of  them  to  carry 
home.     The  largest  was  tied  up  in  Earl's  coat,  which 


i!  i 


» 


■' 


20G 


TO    AliASKA    KOIl   (SOU). 


i! 


I-  |:i 


!"T    . 


'I 


\ui  slung  ciut'lt'ssly  over  his  shoulder  us  lie  trudged 
aloii<j^. 

"  Worth  live  to  six  thousand  dollars  if  they  are 
worth  a  cent,"  said  Earl,  as  he  surveyed  the  lot  in  the 
privacy  of  their  tent.  "  And  we  haven't  begun  to  wash 
up  yet  nor  tested  that  little  crack.  This  is  the  best 
luck  yet." 

Some  of  iheir  findings  had  already  been  put  down  in 
a  hole  under  the  bedding  in  the  tent.  The  hole  was 
now  opened  and  the  new  findings  added,  Earl  first 
making  a  list  of  the  nuggets,  to  give  to  his  uncle. 
The  ground  was  pounded  down  hard  after  this,  so 
that  if  anybody  wanted  to  dig  the  treasure  up,  he 
would  find  it  a  day's  labor.  Nearly  all  the  miners 
buried  their  large  finds,  it  being  the  only  protection 
to  be  had. 

On  Saturday  Mr.  Portney  came  back,  bringing  with 
him  three  Indians  loaded  down  with  huuber  and  hard- 
ware. He  was  much  surprised  to  see  Fred,  and  was 
on  the  point  of  giving  the  lad  a  good  talking  to  when 
liandy  called  him  aside  and  explained  the  situation. 
Earl,  also,  i)ut  in  a  good  word  for  Fred  ;  and  then, 
when  the  Indians  were  paM  jff  and  discharged,  the 
subject  was  dropped,  by  both  boys  telling  of  the  won- 
derful find  which  had  been  made.  Of  course  Foster 
Portney  was  greatly  interested,  and  he  smiled  when 
Jlandy  particularly  mentioned  how  Fred  had  brought 
out  the  first  nugget  and  caused  Earl  to  investigate 
further, 


PUKPAUAIMONS    VitM    WINTKIt. 


207 


are 


''  You  (jurtjiiiily  dcscivc^  (ucdil  lor  llijit,  Dohson," 
Ik;  .said.  "  Vmi  sliail  liiivt;  your  full  share  of  what- 
ever 'he  luiL^^iil  proves  to  ])e  worth.  As  for  that 
little  split,  the  ouly  thiu^-  we  can  (h>  is  to  bh)W  it 
oi)eu  with  dyuaujite,  and,  luckily,  I   hrouj^ht  a  can  of 


the  stutl'  fi 


Di 


awson  lor  just  sucn  an  emergency. 

Foster  Portney  had  heard  about  (luardley,  and  had 
also  heard  that  some  C'anadian  mounted  police,  who 
had  arrived  at  Dawson  City,  were  on  Tom  Roland's 
trail,  (iuardley  had  turned  up  at  Forty  Mile  Post 
whipped  half  to  death,  and  it  was  doubtful  whether 
he  would  get  over  his  punishment. 

On  Sunday  the  question  of  whether  Fred  Dobson 
should  remain  as  one  of  the  party  or  not  was  fully 
discussed.  The  lad  oll'ered  to  work  for  nothing  if 
oidy  given  his  board  and  such  clothing  as  he  needed, 
and  Randy  and  Karl  said  Fred  could  certainly  cook  as 
well  as  any  of  them  and  was  getting  more  used  to  using 
a  pick  and  a  shovel  every  day.  Seeing  that  his 
nephews  wanted  the  runaway  to  be  taken  in,  Mr.  Port- 
ney  at  last  said  he  would  "  let  it  go  at  that." 

"I'll  feed  you  and  clotlie  you,"  he  added,  "and  if 
we  come  out  all  right  next  spring  Fll  pay  your  passage 
baclj:  to  Basco  and  give  you  a  little  extra  in  the  bar- 
gain. But  you've  got  to  hustle  the  same  as  the  rest  of 
us ;  that  is,  as  far  as  your  strength  and  health  will 
permit."  And  Fred  said  he  understood  and  was 
thankful  for  the  chance,  and  would  do  his  level  beijt. 


I 


III 


$ 


208 


TO    ALASKA     I'OIJ    (iOMK 


And  ho  (lid  do  Ids  l(»V(d  lu'st  IVoin  (liat.  Ikmit  fordi.    II is 


0XHIMM01U'(> 


liiul   Ih>imi  a  hilliT  o]n\  hul  at    (Ik^  saiini  liiiui 


it  had  luv'u  llu^  hosl,  in   (ho  world 'l\)i'   him, — tixac-My 


w 


hat  I 


w  n(H>t 


hMl. 


Tho  days  which  followod  woro  hnsy  onos.  With  the 
lunduM-  hrouLi^ht  in,  Foster  i*orlnev  iind  the  hoys  i;on- 
strneted  thret>.  shiit'(»  boxes,  wlueh,  alter  eoniphUion, 
were  set  up  at  eonvenient  points  in  the  jj^nleh,  wheni 
the  water  niii;ht  easily  ho  turned  on  and  oil"  in  tiiein. 
Each  hox  was  tifleen  IV'et.  lonuf  and  a.  loot  scpiare,  open 
iit  eaeh  end  and  at  the  toj),  the  latter  havin«^  a  tew 
braces  across  to  keej)  the  sides  stitT.  At  tho  bottom 
of  the  hox  suKi'd  cleats  about  an  inch  hiij^h  were  i)lacc(l 
at  intervals  of  tifteen  inches  apart,  (he  last  cleat,  at  tho 
lower  end  of  the  box,  beini^  a  trille  higher  than  tho  rest. 

A  sluice  box  done,  it  w^as  carried  to  the  s[)ot  selootod 
for  it  and  planted  tirmly,  with  its  lower  end  in  tho 
stream  and  its  upper  end  elevated  from  one  to  two 
feet.  Then  the  up})er  end  of  the  stream  was  run  into 
it  hv  means  of  a  water  trouiifh.  The  box  was  now 
ready  for  use.  By  shovoUiui''  <lirt  in  at  the  upper  end 
and  allowing  the  water  to  run  through,  tho  dirt  was 
gradually  washed  down  and  out  at  the  lower  end, 
leaviuiT  the  heavy  cfold  io  settle  to  tho  bottom  and 
pile  up  along  the  upper  sides  of  the  cleats  previously 
mentioned.  At  night  the  water  was  turned  aside  and 
the  day's  accumulation  of  gold  was  scraped  away  from 
the  eleat*^. 


1 1' 


IMMCPAltAiroNS    KOIt    WINTKIf, 


liO!) 


"Wo  (!;ui  <l()  ;i  'hmmI  dcul   moic   wili/   llic  Koxcs  tliun 


w«  c.iin   \vi 


ill   ti 


M! 


tuns. 


SUKi 


I' 


ostrr 


I'orl 


iicy 


And 


wluil 


WHS 


liinir  \V(5  Wiinl  l*»  do  ninsl    Im;  doni;  liclorc,  rold 


woailior  Slits  in  and  Ilic  n'lilcli  fnu'/ds  up." 

It  must  not  \n'.  sii|»|M)S(mI  tliat  tl:';  slit  in  fix;  rocks 
had  hocii  i'oi'<:jott(;n.  To  tli(!  (tontniry,  all  iiands  iiad 
ol"t()n  H[)ol\(;ii  of  it,  and  as  soon  as  I  Ik;  sluice  boxes  were 
finisliud  every  one  in  tlic  chiitn  turned  to  IIk*  |)i;icc. 
Tvv(;  .sticks  of  dyh.uiiit(!  were  piiiccd  in  t  he  slit  and  set 
ofT,  and  tim  ro(dc  hlown  into  a  tiiousand  I'laL^nieids. 

TIm!  I)last  reveahul  an  ofn'iiinLC  henealh  the  slit-  which 
was  a  yard  wi(h)  and  twic"  as  de(!|).  I'his  oj»enin^  was 
lilled  with  loose  sand  and  «liit,  and  at  the  hottoni  of  all 
was  a  tliiek  Liyer  of  <^old  dnst,  sli<^litly  inix<;d  with 
silver.  'I'lit\y  serai)ed  the  dnst  \i[>  wit  h  <(r(!at  care,  and 
found  that  it  would  v(!ry  nearly  (ill  a  ([iiart  nieasnn;. 
They  hunted  (ia,!^erly  foi  iiu<^i^(!ts,  hut  no  more  could 
be  found,  and  the  quartz  roek  Karl  had  iioped  for  failed 
to  appear. 

"Never  mhid;  we  can't  expect  too  much  luck,"  said 
Mr.  Portney-  "A.  heap  of  dust  like  this  is  find  (^nou^di 
for  one  day.  L(}t  us  scra[K;  the;  hoh;  thoroui^hly  and 
cart  the  dirt  (hjwii  to  tlie  nearest  sluice;  hox.'  This 
was  done  and  they  examiu(;d  the  vicinity  carefullv  for 
another  slit,  hut  none 


appe 


V 


on  Prosper  Gulcli,  was  now  exhausted,  and  with  a  si^-h 
Randy  and  Earl  turnci  away  to  the  re^ndar  work  of 
washing  for  dust.     Each  had  one  of  the  boxes  allotted 


l^^ 


..  J  i 


/ 


JIO 


TO    ALASIvA    V()\l    ^ULD. 


to  him,  while  Foster  Portney  took  the  third.  Fred 
i/ocupied  his  time  between  the  three  iiiid  in  eooking  the 
meals  ;  and  thus  the  balance  of  the  sunnner  slipped  by 
until  the  day  came  when  Mr.  Portney  announced  that 
they  must  begin  building  a  cabin  and  prepare  for  the 
long  Alaskan  winter  which  would  speedily  close  in 
around  them. 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 


THE    END   UF   THE   SUMMEIl   SEASON. 


Mr.  PoiiTNEV  iii^'-l  the  boys  had  long  since  decided 
where  the  cabin  shouhl  be  built,  up  against  the  side  of  a 
cliff,  ten  feet  in  height,  which  overlooked  the  head  of  the 
gulch.  All  the  miners  in  the  locality  had  agreed  that 
this  would  be  the  best  spot,  and  six  cabins  were  to  be 
placed  there,  for  hospitality's  sake  if  for  no  other  reason. 
Mr.  Portney  had  already  ordered  the  dressed  lumber 
needed  from  the  saw-mill;  but  as  this  was  costly  stuff, 
and  expensive  to  transport,  Karl  and  Randy  had  de- 
clared their  intenti(m  to  go  into  tiie  timl)er  back  of  the 
cliff  and  get  ou*,  whatever  of  rough  wood  could  be  made 
to  do. 

"  We're  not  going  in  for  style,"  declared  Earl.  "  You 
cjin  get  tlie  window  frames  and  glass,  and  the  door  and 
the  tinishing  boards,  and  we'll  get  out  the  rest,  won't  we, 
Randy  ?  ''     And  his  brother  agreed  with  him. 

A  week  later  found  the  party  building  in  earnest. 
Over  a  hundred  dollars'  wortli  of  huuber  liad  been  pur- 
chased, and  it  had  cost  as  much  again  to  bring  it  over. 
Tn  the  meantime  Earl  and  Randy,  aided  by  Fred,  liad 
brought  out  from  the  woods  four  sticks  of  timljer  for 

211 


H 


T 


if! 


212 


TO    ALiASKA    FOIl    GOLD. 


the  corner  posts  of  tlie  cabin  and  had  whip-sawed  tAVO- 
score  of  rougli  hoards.  With  tliis  material  they  went  to 
work,  and  fonr  pairs  of  willing  liands  soon  caused  the 
building  to  take  definite  shape.  Seeing  them  at  work, 
the  other  miners  also  got  at  it,  and  soon  there  was  saw- 
ing and  hammering  all  day  long  beneath  the  cliff. 

Of  necessity  the  cabin  was  a  simple  affair.  It  was 
set  partly  i  tJ)e  Hat  rock  and  partly  on  the  hard 
ground,  and  .  twenty  feet  wide  by  twelve  feet 
deep,  the  back  resting  almost  against  the  cliff.  In 
the  front  was  a  door  and  a  window,  and  tliere  was  an- 
other window  at  the  end  nearest  to  the  door.  Inside,  a 
spare  bhmket  divided  the  space  into  two  compartments, 
the  first,  the  one  having  the  door,  being  the  general 
living-room,  and  the  second  being  the  sleeping-room. 
In  the  living-room  was  placed  a  cooking-stove,  a  rude 
table,  and  four  home-made  chairs,  while  the  sleeping- 
room  was  provided  with  four  bunks,  ranged  along  the 
rear  and  end  walls.  Later  on  a  closet  was  built  for 
the  cooking-utensils,  but  for  the  present  these  were 
piled  up  in  a  corner. 

Foster  Portney  was  very  particular  that  all  the 
cracks  in  the  side  walls  of  the  cabin  should  be  filled 
in  with  mud,  and  the  top,  which  was  nearly  on  a 
level  with  the  cliff,  was  also  made  Avater  and  wind 
tight,  excepting  where  a  circular  hole  was  left  for 
the  upper  section  of  a  stovepipe. 

As  soon  as   the  cabin  was  in  habitable   shape,  an 


ed  two- 
went  to 
sed  tlie 
t  work, 
as  sjiw- 
[f. 

It  was 

le   hard 

v8   feet 

iff-     In 

was  an- 

nside,  a 

tineiits, 

general 

^-room. 

a  rude 

eeping- 

ug  the 

lilt  for 

b  were 

11  the 
filled 
on  a 
wind 

ft   for 

)e,  an 


THE   END   OF   THE   SUMMER   SEASON. 


21^ 


account  (jf  all  the  provisions  on  hand  was  taken.  It 
was  found  that  the  canned  vegetables  had  run  low 
and  that  they  also  needed  more  flour.  A  list  of 
necessities  was  made  out,  and  Earl  and  his  uncle 
started  away  to  Dawson  City  to  purchase  them,  know- 
ing that  prices  were  advancing  every  day  and  that 
the  goods  on  hand  at  the  stin-e  were  liable  to  give  out 
long  before  the  demand  for  tliem  should  cease. 

Fred  had  asked  to  go  out  into  the  woods  to  see  what 
he  could  shoot,  he  being  a  fairly  good  shot  and  thor- 
oughly familiar  with  the  use  of  a  gun.  It  was  thought 
best  not  to  let  him  go  alone,  and  he  and  Kandy  went 
together,  leaving  the  cabin  in  care  of  the  miners  who 
were  building  close  at  hand. 

The  hunt  in  the  woods  was  hardly  a  success.  After 
tramping  around  for  two  hours  they  brought  down 
several  birds  of  a  species  unknown  to  them  and  one 
small  deer,  smaller  than  any  Randy  liad  ever  seen  in 
Maine.  Otherwise  the  woods  were  bare  of  game,  and 
by  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  they  gave  it  up. 

"When  Earl  comes  back  I'll  ask  my  uncle  to  let  the 
three  of  us  go  over  to  tlie  river,"  said  Randy.  "I've 
heard  there  are  good  chances  there  for  wild  goose, 
snipe,  and  plover." 

"  Yes,  and  we  might  put  in  a  day  fishing.  Even  salt 
and  smoked  fish  wouldn't  go  bad  during  the  winter," 
added  Fred.  He  was  growing  hardy  and  strong  and 
took  a  deep  interest  in  all  that  was  going  on. 


I 


t 


I!  ' 


taJAa!^ 


214 


TO   ALASKA    FOIl   (J OLD. 


It  was  two  flays  before  Mr.  Portney  and  Earl  re- 
turned, bringing  with  them  all  they  and  two  Indians 
could  carry.  The  provisions  included  an  extra  hundred 
pounds  of  flour,  for  which  they  had  paid  fifty  dollars, 
some  canned  peas  and  tomatoes,  fifteen  pounds  of  dried 
apples  and  California  apricots,  and  some  coffee,  sugar, 
salt,  and  smoked  bacon.  In  an  extra  package  Earl  also 
carried  a  beefsteak  weighing  two  pounds  and  for  which 
he  had  paid  five  dollars. 

"  It's  Randy's  birthday  to-morrow,"  he  said,  "  and 
we're  going  to  celebrate  in  a  style  I  know  you'll  all 
admire."  And  every  one  laughed  and  agreed  with  him, 
for  they  had  not  had  any  fresh  beef  smce  leaving  the 
steamboat  at  Dyea. 

Foster  Portney  was  quite  willing  that  the  three  boys 
should  take  a  trip  over  to  the  Yu^on  to  see  what  could 
be  found  in  the  way  of  fish  and  game,  and  it  was 
arranged  that  they  should  be  gone  three  days.  The 
start  was  made  on  Monday  morning. 

They  travelled  altogether  by  compass  through  the 
woods,  managing  on  the  way  to  knock  over  enough 
birds  to  serve  them  for  their  meals.  On  the  morning 
of  the  second  day  they  struck  the  Yukon  about  midway 
between  Dawson  City  and  Ogilvie.  As  they  came  in 
sight  of  the  broad  stream  Earl  halted  the  crowd  and 
pointed  straight  ahead. 

"  Look  at  the  snipe  !  "  he  said.  "Now  is  our  chance. 
Let  us  all  fire  together  I  " 


arl  re- 
ndians 
Lindred 
iollars, 
E  dried 
sugar, 
irl  also 
'  which 

,  "and 
u'll  all 
:h  him, 
ng  the 

se  boys 
could 
it  was 
The 

rh  the 
|nough 
►rning 
lidway 
Ime  in 
and 

lance. 


THE    KND   OF    TUK   SlTMMKl^    SEASON. 


215 


Randy  and  Fred  had  borrowed  shot-guns  from  their 
neighbors,  and  at  the  signal  three  reports  rang  out,  and 
eight  of  the  birds  came  down.  A  second  shot  from 
Randy,  whose  gun  had  a  double  barrel,  brought  down 
three  more  ;  and  from  that  hour  on  the  sport  began, 
lasting  until  well  into  the  evening,  when  they  had 
twenty  snipe,  six  plover,  and  eight  wild  geese  to  their 
credit. 

As  late  as  it  was.  Earl  determined  to  try  his  hand  at 
fishing,  and  soon  had  his  line  out.  There  were  a  few 
minutes  of  waiting,  then  the  bait  was  taken  like  a  flash, 
and  there  followed  a  lively  struggle  between  the  youth 
and  a  salmon  which  weighed  over  fifteen  pounds.  Sev- 
eral times  Earl  thought  he  had  lost  his  catch,  but  each 
time  he  recovered,  and  finally  the  salmon  came  in  close 
enough  to  be  swung  on  shore.  Even  then  he  flopped 
around  so  lively  that  Fred  had  to  quiet  him  by  a  blow 
from  the  stock  of  his  gun. 

Earl's  success  had  fired  the  others,  and  soon  they 
were  fishing  in  the  pale-blue  twilight  of  the  night. 
They  kept  it  up  until  after  twelve  o'clock,  when  they 
turned  in  with  a  catch  of  three  salmon,  several  white- 
fish,  and  a  burbot,  which  Randy  at  first  took  for  a  codfish. 
They  slept  soundly,  and  early  in  the  morning  tried  the 
sport  again,  starting  for  home  at  about  noon,  and 
arriving  there  with  their  burdens  some  time  after  mid- 
night, worn  out  but  happy. 

It  was  found  that  Foster  Portney  had  not  been  idle 


210 


TO   ALASKA    FOR   GOLD. 


during  tlieir  Jibsence.  From  time  to  time,  as  the 
canned  eatables  were  disposed  of,  they  had  saved  the 
tins,  and  now  he  had  cleaned  them  out  and  filled  some 
with  such  berries  as  still  remained  on  the  bushes  about 
the  gulch.  To  seal  the  cans  up  he  had  brought  from 
Dawson  City  a  stick  of  lead,  and  for  an  iron  had  used 
the  end  of  a  broken  pick. 

"  That  will  give  us  some  fresh  berries,"  he  said. 
"  And  along  with  canned  salmon,  and  salted  and 
smoked  whitefish,  burbot,  and  wild  goose,  I  reckon 
we'll  get  along  fairly  well,  unless  the  winter  proves 
an  extra  long  one." 

As  much  as  they  felt  the  necessity  of  preparing  for 
winter,  Randy  and  Earl  hated  to  lose  the  time  when 
there  was  the  chance  to  make  so  much  money  at  the 
sluice  boxes.  So  as  soon  as  they  were  able,  they  got 
down  to  the  gulch  again,  and  never  did  two  lads  work 
harder.  They  were  accompanied  by  Fred,  and  a  day 
later  their  uncle  also  joined  them. 

The  dirt  from  the  pocket  had  been  cleaned  up,  and  it 
had  yielded  over  twenty  ounces  of  gold.  They  were 
now  working  on  the  regular  sand  and  gravel  scraped 
from  the  bedrock  of  the  gulch,  and  though  this  did  not 
pay  so  well,  yet  it  brought  in  enough  to  make  them  all 
satisfied.  There  was  a  good  deal  of  excitement,  too, 
when  it  came  to  cleaning  out  the  sluice  boxes,  for 
almost  every  day  one  or  another  found  a  nugget,  some- 
times small,  iuid  then  again  as  large  as  a  walnut. 


THE  END   OP   THE   SUMMER   SEASON. 


217 


"  llow  much  do  you  think  we  are  averaging?  "  asked 
Handy,  one  day,  and  his  uncle  replied  that  he  could  not 
figure  very  closely,  but  he  would  put  it  down  as  over 
a  hundred  dollars  per  day.  This  meant  twenty-five 
dollars  a  day  as  the  boy's  share,  and  he  felt  more  con- 
tent than  ever  to  slave  along  in  the  gulch. 

For  it  was  slaving  along,  this  constantly  picking  and 
digging  and  carting  the  dirt,  sand,  and  gravel  to  the 
sluice  boxes  and  throwing  it  in.  Every  night  Randy's 
back  ached,  and  sometimes  he  would  come  in  with  feet 
that  were  sopping  wet,  and  covered  up  to  his  waist 
with  mud  and  muck.  And  then  he  took  a  touch  of  the 
chills  and  fever,  and  was  down  on  his  back  for  a  week 
with  only  Fred  to  wait  on  him.  The  chills  and  fever 
went  the  rounds,  and  Foster  Portney  and  Earl  were 
stricken  at  the  same  time.  Fred  was  the  last  to  catch 
it ;  and  by  the  time  he  had  recovered,  winter  was  at 
hand. 

The  first  indication  was  a  rawness  in  the  air,  which 
made  them  shiver  when  they  turned  out  in  the  morn- 
ing. Then  the  bushes  and  the  trees  quickly  lost  their 
leaves,  and  three  days  later  ice  formed  in  the  marshes 
back  of  the  gulch.  The  sun  came  up  as  usual,  but  it 
seemed  to  have  lost  its  warmth,  and  all  were  glad 
enough  to  keep  on  their  coats  even  when  working. 

"Two  more  weeks  will  fetch  it,"  observed  Foster 
Portney.  "  We  had  better  wash  out  as  much  dirt  as 
possible  before  the  water  stops  running." 


!' 


II 


I! 


-1  I 


1^ 


218 


TO  ALASKA  FOR  GOLD. 


Ten  days  later  the  thermometer  went  down  with  a 
rush,  dropping  from  lifty-six  to  but  twenty  above 
zero.  Going  down  to  the  gulch,  they  found  the  stream 
covered  with  ice,  which  was  half  an  inch  thick.  By  the 
next  day  there  was  no  water  to  be  found,  only  ice,  and 
even  the  piles  of  sand,  gravel,  and  dirt  were  frozen 
stiff.  A  heavy  dulness,  which  oppressed  them  greatly, 
hung  in  the  air.  Winter  luid  come,  and  gold  washing 
for  that  season  was  a  thing  of  the  past. 


mw 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


SNOWED  IN. 


? 


Although  everything  in  the  gulch  was  frozen  up, 
it  must  not  be  supposed  that  mining  there  came  to  an 
end.  While  it  was  true  no  more  washing  could  be 
done  that  season,  there  was  dirt,  gravel,  and  sand  to 
be  heaped  in  convenient  spots,  ready  for  the  first  run 
of  waier  in  the  spring. 

At  one  end  of  the  claims  there  was  a  bank  which 
had  been  examined  by  Foster  Portney  and  found  to 
contain  very  rich  pay  dirt,  and  this  bank  was  now  at- 
tacked by  all  hands  and  the  dirt  brought  out  to  the 
nearest  sluice  box.  To  thaw  the  ground  a  fire  was 
built  up  against  the  bank  every  night  and  allowed  to 
burn  until  morning.  Even  in  extremely  cold  weather 
this  thawed  the  bank  to  a  depth  of  several  feet,  and 
when  they  had  scooped  out  a  hole  which  resembled  a 
baker's  oven  the  thawing-out  process  was^  it  ill  more 
effectual. 

But  it  was  hard  and  bitter  work  at  the  best,  and  as 
the  cold  increased,  Fred  found  he  could  not  stand  it, 
and  had  to  remain  in  the  cabin  the  greater  part  of  the 
time,  coming  out  only  during  the  middle  of  the  day. 

219 


Sf 


220 


TO   ALASKA   FOK   GOLD. 


Mi*'! 


"  This  cold  g;(iiH  into  tlio  n  arrow  of  a  fellow's  bones," 
he  said  to  llandy.  "  I  don't  see  how  you  can  put  up 
with  it." 

"  Earl  and  I  were  used  to  pretty  tough  weather  up 
in  the  Maine  woods,  as  you  know,"  rej)lie(l  Kandy. 
"  I  guess  an  out-and-out  city  chap  would  freeze  stiff 
before  he  had  been  here  a  week.  The  thermometer 
was  down  to  six  below  zero  this  morning." 

The  cold  had  cut  off  their  water  supply,  and  every 
drop  for  drinking  or  cooking  had  to  be  obtained  by 
melting  ice  on  the  stove.  To  keep  them  in  fuel,  all 
hands  spent  four  days  up  in  the  woods  cutting  timber, 
which  was  allowed  to  dry  out  for  two  weeks,  and  was 
then  hauled  over  to  the  ed(^e  of  the  cliff  and  tumbled 
down  to  a  spot  between  their  cabin  and  that  of  their 
nearest  neighbor,  two  hundred  feet  away. 

By  Foster  Portney's  advice  another  trip  was  made 
by  him  and  Earl  to  the  Yukon  River  in  search  of  fish 
for  winter  use,  for  fish  could  now  be  kept  by  simply 
being  frozen  in  a  chunk  of  ice  and  laid  away.  The 
two  found  the  ice  on  the  Yukon  over  two  feet  thick,  and 
had  to  cut  fishing-holes  with  an  axe  they  had  brought 
along  for  that  purpose.  They  spent  a  day  on  the  river, 
fishing  and  spearing,  and  were  rewarded  with  a  catch 
of  over  fifty  pounds.  Earl  had  brought  the  shot-gun, 
and  to  the  fish  were  added  a  dozen  small  sea-fowl, 
which  were  caught  on  the  wing  while  flying  southward. 

"  We  had  better  be  getting  back,"  observed  Foster 


ln'i 


SNOWED    IN. 


221 


»> 


tones, 
3ut  up 

her  np 
(andy. 
se  stiff 
ometer 

[  every 
led  l)y 
Liel,  all 
timber, 
nd  was 
imbled 
f  their 

5  made 
of  fish 
simply 
The 
i,  and 
ought 
river, 
catch 
t-gun, 
fowl, 
iward. 
Foster 


Portney,  early  on  the  following  morning.  "  Unless  T 
am  greatly  mistaken  we  shall  have  a  lieavy  fall  of  snow 
by  to-night." 

As  they  did  not  wish  to  bo  caught  in  a  storm,  they 
started  on  the  return  to  the  gulch  as  rapidly  as  their 
loads  would  permit.  They  were  still  in  the  woods 
when  the  first  flakes  began  to  fall.  With  the  com- 
ing of  the  snow  the  wind  began  to  rise,  shaking  the 
bare  limbs  above  them  savagely  and  causing  a  lively 
tumble  of  dead  branches  on  every  side.  Not  to  become 
storm-bound,  they  increased  theii-  pace,  reaching  the 
lower  end  of  the  gulch  by  six  o'clock  in  the  evening. 
They  could  hardly  see  before  them,  so  thickly  did  tlie 
flakes  come  down,  and  both  considered  tliemselves  for- 
tunate in  having  struck  familiar  ground.  Hy  the  time 
the  cabin  was  reached  the  snow  was  six  inches  deep. 

"  We  thought  you'd  be  snowed  under  I "  cried 
Randy,  as  he  opened  the  door  to  let  them  in.  He  had 
been  watching  anxiously  since  the  snow  began  to  fall. 
"It's  going  to  be  an  awful  night." 

He  was  right ;  it  was  an  awful  night  —  more  so  than 
any  of  them  had  anticipated.  After  a  hot  supper  they 
retired  to  their  bunks  to  sleep,  only  to  be  aroused  about 
midnight  by  the  roar  of  the  wind  as  it  tore  through  the 
woods  and  along  the  gulch  with  the  force  of  a  hurri- 
cane. The  snow  was  coming  down  "in  chunks,"  as 
Randy  put  it,  and  mingled  with  it  were  tree  branches, 
small  brush,  and  dried  tundra.     In  one  corner  of  the 


E    \H 


222 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


ll 


J 


5; 


i 


ili' 


I!'' 


WF:\ 


mX\ 


'■«t 


cabip  the  wind  had  found  a  crack  about  six  inches 
long  and  less  than  a  sixteenth  of  an  nich  wide,  and 
througli  tl  "s  crack  tlie  snow  had  sifted  over  the  entire 
floor. 

"  Jerusalem  !  the  roof  is  coming  down  ! "  cried  Earl, 
when  they  had  been  up  a  few  minutes,  and  while  his 
uncle  was  stuffing  a  piece  of  cloth  in  the  crack  men- 
tioned. There  was  a  great  noise  overhead  as  the 
hurricane  tore  away  the  top  joint  of  the  stovepipe. 
Through  the  opening  poured  a  lot  of  snow,  which, 
falling  on  the  hot  stove,  sent  up  a  cloud  of  steam.  To 
stop  the  snow  from  coming  in,  Foster  Portney  climbed 
up  on  the  top  of  the  table  and  nailed  a  bit  of  a  board 
over  the  hole. 

"  We  can't  have  tliat  stovepipe  up  there,  that's  cer- 
tain," he  said.  "  We'll  have  to  stick  it  out  of  the  side 
w'ndow.  It  won't  look  very  elegant,  but  I  reckon 
we're  not  keeping  house  on  looks  up  here."  And  by 
their  united  efforts  the  sto\e  was  swung  around  in 
front  of  the  little  window,  and  the  upper  end  of  v.'^hat 
was  left  of  the  pipe  was  twisted  around  and  pointed 
outside,  after  one  of  the  small  window  panes  had  been 
taken  out.  Around  the  pipe  Mr.  Portney  fitted,  a 
square  sheet  of  tin,  obtained  from  an  empty  tomato 
can.  Then  the  floor  was  cleared  of  snow  and  the  fire 
started  up  afresh. 

The  hurricane,  or  blizzard,  lasted  until  six  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  and  during  that  time  nobody  thought  of 


SNOWED   IN. 


223 


go'ng  to  sleep  again.  The  cabin  shook  and  rocked,  and 
had  it  not  been  for  the  shelter  of  the  cliff  would  have 
gone  to  pieces.  The  snow  kept  jnling  higher  and 
higher  until   it   threatened   to  cut  off   the  smokepipe 


again. 


"Perhaps  we'll  have  to  swing  tiie  stove  around  to 
the  front,"  said  Foster  Portney.  "  We  can  let  the 
pipe  out  near  the  roof,  and  build  a  little  hood  over  it, 
so  that  the  snow  from  the  cliff  can  blow  right  over 
into  the  gulch."     And  later  on  this  was  done. 

"This  will  stop  work  in  the  gulch,"  said  Randy. 
"  it's  too  bad  !  What  on  earth  are  we  going  to  do 
with  ourselves  from  now  until  next  spring?" 

"  We'll  try  to  keep  alive  and  well.  Randy,"  returned 
Mr.  Portney,  seriously.  "  Remember,  from  now  on 
comes  the  tug-of-war,  as  the  old  saying  goes." 

But  work  was  not  over,  as  Randy  had  surmised. 
To  be  sure,  when  the  storm  ceased  at  noon  it  was 
found  the  snow  was  nearly  three  feet  deep  on  the  level. 
But  a  day's  labor  sufficed  to  beat  down  a  path  to  the 
bank  in  the  pulch,  and  once  again  the  fires  were  started 
and  the  work  of  getting  the  dirt  to  the  sluice  boxes  re- 
sumed. The  clearing  of  the  storta  had  left  it  stinging 
cold,  and  all  were  glad  enough  lo  hustle  lively  in  order 
to  keep  warm.  They  worked  with  their  overcoats  on 
and  with  their  feet  encased  in  several  pairs  of  woollen 
socks,  and  even  then  spent  much  time  around  the  fire, 
"  thawing  out,"  to  use  Randy's  words. 


224 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


1>hU.\ 


ni 


The  work  in  the  bank,  however,  paid  them  well. 
Four  days  aftei  tlie  fall  of  snow,  Foster  Portney 
struck  several  rocks  to  one  side  of  the  rise  and 
located  another  pocket  of  nuggets.  They  were  all 
small  fellows,  the  largest  about  the  size  of  a  hickory 
nut,  but  the  nuggets  numbered  nearly  half  a  hundred 
and  caused  a  good  deal  of  excitement. 

"It's  another  fifteen  hundred  or  two  thousand  dol- 
lars to  our  credit,"  said  Mr.  Portney.  "  And  not  only 
that,  but  this  dirt  is  as  rich  as  that  taken  from  the 
pocket  over  yonder.  We  haven't  struck  a  million,  but 
we  are  doing  remarkably  well." 

"  I  w  onder  how  Captain  Zoss  and  Dr.  Barwaithe 
are  making  out,"  said  Earl.  They  had  not  heard 
from  their  former  partners  for  nearly  a  month,  when 
a  miner  had  brought  word  to  the  effect  that  they  had 
just  located  a  claim  on  a  gulch  heading  into  Hunker 
Creek,  the  third  strike  since  leaving  Mosquito  Hollow. 

"  I  imagine  they  are  not  doing  any  better  than  we 
are,"  replied  his  uncle.  "  If  they  were,  we  should  have 
heard  of  it.  It  may  pay  to  strike  aroand,  more  or  less, 
but  I  believe  in  giving  a  claim  a  fair  trial  before  aban- 
doning it." 

Less  than  a  week  later  it  began  to  snow  again. 
The  sky  was  heavy,  and  even  at  midday  it  did  not 
brighten  up.  They  had  gone  down  to  the  gulch 
directly  after  breakfast,  but  now  returned  to  the  cabin, 
to  fix  up  tlie  stovepipe  as  previously  mentioned,  and 


SNOWED   IN. 


90  n 


to  cut  enouirh  small  v/ood  to  last  for  several  weeks, 
ivli  were  hard  at  work  when  tliey  saw  two  wliite  men 
and  two  Indians  approaching,  tlie  latter  driving  hefore 
them  two  dog  teams  attached  to  a  pair  of  Alaskan 
sledges,  piled  high  with  miners'  ontfits.  The  two 
men  were  Dr.   Barwaithe  and  Captain  Zoss. 

"  It's  a  sight  good  fer  sore  eyes  to  see  ye  ag'in  ! " 
exclaimed  the  captain,  as  he  shook  hands  with  Mr. 
Portney  and  the  boys.  "I  couldn't  keep  away  no 
longer.     How  are  ye  all?" 

*'•  We  are  very  well,"  said  Foster  Portney.  "  How 
have  you  been  doing?" 

"  Only  fairly  well,"  answered  the  doctor.  "  To  tell 
the  truth,  I  don't  think  it  paid  to  strike  out.  We  have 
a  little  dust,  but  no  more,  I  imagine,  tlian  we  should 
have  had  had  we  remained  with  you." 

The  pair  had  come  over  to  ■  "  if  they  could  not 
arrange  to  remain  at  the  cabin  throuq-!i  the  winter, 
fearing  that  they  would  find  it  very  lones(  me  if  tlicy 
went  off  by  themselves.  They  had  brought  along  all 
their  things,  including  a  stock  of  provisions,  an<l  were 
willing  to  pay  whatever  was  fair  in  addition.  As 
their  company  would  no  doubt  prove  very  acceptable 
during  the  long,  cheerless  days  to  come,  they  .e 
taken  in  without  question. 

"  We  can  put  up  two  more  bunks  somewhere,"  said 
Foster  Portney.  "  And  though  we  may  be  rather 
crowded,  I  reckon  we'll  manage  it."     He  had  taken  a 


mmf 

Wu  ''''' 

i  - 

\  1  I' 

:           I     ■'■ 

1 

1  ii; 

226 


TO   ALASKA   FOK   GOLD. 


great  fancy  to  the  doctor,  and  was  pleased  to  think  he 
would  not  have  to  depend  altogether  on  the  boys  for 
companionship.  As  for  the  boys,  Randy  declared  that 
the  presence  of  the  jovial  captain  would  make  every 
day  seem  several  hours  shorter.  Fred,  whose  story 
had  been  told  in  secret,  also  took  to  the  newcomers, 
and  all  together  they  formed  a  happy  family. 

But  the  height  of  the  winter  was  now  on  them,  and  it 
was  destined  to  keep  its  grip  for  many  long  weeks  and 
months  to  come.  The  storm  that  had  started  on  the 
day  the  doctor  and  the  captain  arrived  kept  up  with 
more  or  less  vigor  for  a  week,  and  by  that  time  they 
found  themselves  snowed  in  completely.  The  ther- 
mometer kept  going  down  steadily,  registering  as  low 
as  fifteen  degrees  below  zero,  and  on  more  than  one 
occasion  the  pail  of  wattr  standing  up  against  the  side 
of  the  stove  was  frozen  solid.  To  keep  thoroughly 
warm  was  impossible,  even  though  they  wrapped 
themselves  in  all  the  clothing  and  blankets  their  out- 
fits afforded. 


I 


i 


# 


link  he 
'oys  for 
ed  that 
!  every 
J  story 
jomers, 

,  and  it 
ks  and 
on  the 
p  with 
e  they 
)  ther- 
as  low 
m  one 
le  side 
)ughly 
•apped 
r  out- 


CHAPTER   XXIX. 

WAITING   AND   WATCHING   FOR   SPRING. 

«  Perhaps  it  isn't  cold !     I  never  felt  so  frozen  up 
in  my  life !  " 

It  was  Randy  who  uttered  the  words,  as  he  danced 
around  the  floor  of  the  living-room,  almost  on  top  of 
the  stove.  The  fire  had  burned  low  during  the  night, 
and  he  had  just  shoved  in  some  fresh  wood  and  opened 
the  draughts.  Going  to  the  little  window  of  the  sleep- 
ing-apartment, he  looked  through  the  single  pane  of 
glass  at  the  thermometer,  which  hung  on  the  casement 
outside.  The  mercury  registered  twenty-two  degrees 
below  zero. 

"  Twenty-two  degrees  below,  and  this  is  Christmas 
morning !  "  he  went  on,  with  another  shiver.  "  The 
best  thing  Santa  Claus  can  bring  us  is  warmer 
weather." 

"  Merry  Christmas !  "  cried  Fred,  tumbling  out  of 
his  bunk,  and  his  cry  awoke  the  others,  and  the  greet- 
ing went  the  whole  round.  The  fire  was  now  blazing 
with  a  vigor  which  threatened  to  crack  the  stove,  yet  as 
they  talked  they  could  see  each  other's  breath.  Every 
one  was  stamping  around  to  get  his  blood  in  circulation. 

227 


$ 


228 


TO    ALASKA    FOU    (JOLD. 


"I'll  giv(3  ye  some  hot  coffee  and  Christmiis  flap- 
jacks !  "  said  tlie  cai)taiii ;  and  soon  a  smell  wliicli  was 
most  appetizing  was  floating  through  the  air,  and  they 
sat  down  at  the  table,  which  had  been  placed  as  close 
to  the  fire  as  possible.  Indeed,  "hugging  the  stove" 
was  a  common  trick  all  day  long,  and  Fred  often 
grumbled  because  he  could  not  take  the  stove  to  bed 
with  him.  The  boys  were  waking  up  to  the  fact  that 
an  Alaskan  winter  was  "•  two  winters  in  one,"  as  Earl 
said,  when  compared  with  those  experienced  at  home. 

It  had  been  snowing  again ;  indeed,  it  snowed  about 
half  the  time  now,  and  even  in  the  middle  of  the  day 
it  was  so  dark  they  could  scarcely  see,  excepting  right 
in  front  of  the  windows.  Some  time  previous  several 
Indians  had  appeared  with  fish  oil  and  some  dried  fat 
fish  to  sell,  and  they  had  purchased  a  quantity  of  both 
for  lighting  purposes.  The  oil  was  used  in  a  lamp 
made  of  a  round  tin  having  a  home-made  wick  hang- 
ing over  the  side.  The  fat  fish,  dried  very  hard,  were 
slit  in  strips  and  set  up,  to  be  lighted  and  burnt  as  tal- 
low candles.  ]\Iany  of  the  Indians  and  th(  Esquimaux 
have  no  lights  but  these  dried-fish  candles.  The  smell 
from  them  is  far  from  pleasant,  but  they  are  certainly 
better  than  nothing. 

As  it  was  a  holiday,  the  boys  felt  they  must  do  some- 
thing. But  what  to  do  was  the  question,  until  Fred 
suggested  they  try  their  hand  at  making  some  candy. 
They  were  allowed  just  a  pound  of  sugar  by  the  men, 


I 


WAITING    AND   WATCHING    FOR   SIMIING. 


:220 


Earl 


I  some- 
Fred 

|andy. 
men, 


and  worked  themselves  half  sick  over  the  wood  nre 
until  noon,  when  the  candy  was  declared  done.  It 
was  a  sort  of  tJiffy;  and  although  it  would  not  have 
added  to  the  reputation  of  a  skilled  confectioner,  all 
hands  partook  of  their  sliare  of  it,  and  declared  it 
excellent. 

Just  before  being  snowed  in  Mr.  Portney  had  be- 
come the  possessor  of  two  newspapers  and  a  magazine, 
and  much  of  the  time  was  spent  by  one  or  another 
over  these.  The  magazine  was  rather  a  heavy  one,  yet 
the  boys  read  it  through  from  cover  to  cover,  includ- 
ing all  the  advertisements.  It  contained  among  other 
stories  one  which  was  continued,  and  to  pass  away 
the  time  they  tried  to  invent  a  conclusion.  This  self- 
imposed  task  amused  the  doctor  also,  and  he  took  a 
hand  and  finished  the  tale  in  a  manner  which  took 
three  evenings  to  tell. 

And  so  New  Year's  Day  came  and  went,  and  still 
they  found  themselves  housed  up  with  the  thermome- 
ter continually  at  fifteen  to  twenty  degrees  below. 
Once  it  went  down  to  twenty-six  below,  and  every- 
thing fairly  cracked  with  the  cold.  To  keep  from 
being  frozen,  one  and  another  stood  guard  during  the 
night,  that  the  fire  might  not  go  down.  During  that 
time  they  received  but  scant  news  from  their  neighbors, 
although  the  cabins  along  the  under  side  of  the  cliii' 
were  less  than  seventy  yards  apart.  Nobody  cared  to 
venture  out,  and  even  opening  the  door  was  something 


J 


230 


TO   ALASKA    FOR   GOLD. 


m 


i  'A   ■ 
lit' 


mi 


U' 


to  l)e  considered,  although  the  doctor  insisted  on  having 
a  little  fresh  air. 

"  Providence  help  the  poor  chaps  who  are  not  well 
provided  for  this  winter,"  said  Mr.  Portney,  one  day. 
"  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  some  of  them  are  found  dead  in 
the  spring." 

"  To  be  sure,"  answered  the  captain.  "  I  looked  ter 
somethin'  putty  bad  myself,  but  I  didn't  expect  nuthin' 
like  this.  Why,  we  might  jest  as  well  be  a-sittin'  on 
the  top  o'  the  North  Pole.  Hain't  been  a  blessed 
streak  o'  sunshine  fer  eight  days,  an'  every  time  it 
snows  the  stuff  piles  up  a  foot  or  so  more  I  It  must 
be  nigh  on  to  thirty  feet  deep  in  yonder  gulch." 

"  We'll  have  to  economize  with  our  store  before 
long,"  put  in  the  doctor.  "  Flour  is  running  pretty 
low.  Captain,  you'll  have  to  give  us  less  flap-jacks  — 
they're  too  toothsome." 

"  Yes,  we'll  have  to  come  down  to  plain  bread,"  said 
Foster  Portney.  "And  maybe  eat  it  stale  too,"  he 
added. 

Economizing  began  that  day,  after  Mr.  Portney  had 
taken  an  account  of  the  provisions  still  left  to  them. 
Whatever  they  had  must  be  made  to  do  for  three 
months  yet,  and  three  months  meant  ninety  days,  a 
goodly  number  for  which  to  provide. 

Slowly  the  days  wore  on,  every  one  so  much  like  the 
others  that  it  seemed  impossible  to  tell  them  apart.  Sun- 
day was  the  one  day  they  observed  through  it  all.     On 


I 


WAITING   AND    WATCIIINCJ    FOR   SPUING. 


231 


having 

ot  well 
le  day. 
lead  in 

ked  ter 
nuthin' 
ttin'  on 
blessed 
;ime  it 
[t  must 

before 

pretty 

acks  — 

[,"  said 
•0,"  he 

jy  had 
them, 
three 
|ays,  a 

:e  the 
Sun- 
On 


the  morning  of  that  the  doctor  invariably  read  a  cliapter 
out  of  the  liible  he  carried,  and  one  or  another  of  the 
rest  offered  prayer.  "  It's  right  an'  proper,"  said  the 
captain,  speaking  of  this.  "  We  don't  want  ter  live 
like  no  heathens,  even  if  we  are  cast  away  in  an  ocean 
o'  snow  !  " 

February  proved  the  worst  month  of  all.  It  snowed 
nearly  the  whole  time,  and  it  was  so  dark  that  they 
kept  the  lights  lit  as  long  as  they  dared  to  consume  the 
fish  oil  and  the  dried  fish.  During  that  time  they  saw 
or  heard  nothing  of  their  neighbors,  who  might  have 
died  of  starvation  without  their  being  any  the  wiser. 
The  snow  against  the  door  was  five  feet  high  and 
water  was  obtained  by  shovelling  this  into  the  pot 
instead  of  ice  and  melting  it. 

"  Well,  it's  a  dog's  life  and  that's  the  truth,"  said 
Earl  one  day,  in  the  middle  of  March.  "  It's  worth  all 
the  gold  we've  found  —  that's  my  opinion."  It  was  the 
first  time  Earl  had  grumbled  since  winter  set  in, 
but  as  he  had  not  had  what  he  called  a  square  meal 
for  a  month  he  can  well  be  pardoned  for  the  speech. 

"If  I  thought  I  could  get  there  and  back,  I  would 
try  for  some  extra  provisions  from  Dawson,"  said  Foster 
Portney  ;  but  none  of  the  others  would  hear  of  his 
attempting  such  a  trip,  feeling  certain  he  would  lose 
his  way  and  perish. 

"We'll  make  out  with  what  we  have,"  said  the 
doctor.     "  Divide  the  rations  so  they'll  hold  out  until 


232 


TO   ALASKA    FOR   OOLD. 


the  middle  of  April.  I  fancy  by  that  time  this  winter 
siege  will  about  end."  His  advice  '»vas  followed  out, 
and  they  waited  with  all  the  patience  possible  for  the 
coming  of  sjjring. 

The  fish  and  g  ime  had  long  since  come  to  an  end, 
and  they  were  now  living  on  plain  bread,  beans,  and 
bacon  or  pork,  and  half  a  can  of  fresh  vegetables  per 
day,  with  an  occasional  taste  of  stewed  dried  apples  or 
apricots  as  a  side  dish.  They  were  all  tired  of  the 
beans,  especially  Fred  and  the  doctor,  who  had  been 
used  to  good  living  all  their  lives. 

"  Tliey're  too  much  for  me,"  said  Fred,  one  day,  as 
he  pushed  his  small  plateful  back.  "I'd  rather  eat  a 
crust  of  bread  and  drink  snow  water."  And  the  beans 
remained  untouched  for  two  days,  when  he  was  forced, 
out  of  sheer  hunger,  to  go  at  them  again. 

They  had  also  reached  the  last  half  pound  of  coffee, 
and  by  a  general  vote  this  was  reserved  for  dinner 
each  Sunday.  As  the  amount  on  hand  decreased  they 
made  the  beverage  weaker  and  weaker,  until  the  doctor 
laughingly  declared  that  the  snow  flavored  the  water 
more  than  the  coffee  did.  The  lack  of  coffee  hit 
the  captain  more  than  the  others,  for  he  loved  his  cup- 
ful, strong,  black,  and  without  sugar. 

It  was  on  the  last  day  of  March  that  they  heard  a 
noise  outside  and  then  came  a  faint  hammering  on  their 
door.  All  leaped  up  and  ran  to  open  the  barrier. 
When  it  had  been  forced  back  a  distance  of  a  foot. 


,..^^. 


WAITING   AND   WATCirTNG    FOR   SPUING. 


233 


1  winter 
ed  out, 
for  the 

an  end, 
ns,  and 
jles  per 
pples  or 
of  the 
id   been 

day,  as 
er  eat  a 
le  beans 

forced, 

•  coffee, 
dinner 
ed  they 
doctor 
water 
ffee  hit 
lis  cup- 
heard  a 
3n  their 
carrier, 
a  foot. 


they  behold  two  miners  there,  so  weak  they  could 
scarcely  stand,  much  less  speak.  *'  Sumthin'  to  eat  !  " 
whispered  one  of  them  hoarsely,  and  the  other  echoed 
the  word  '^  Eat  I  "  as  being  all  he  could  say. 

The  two  were  taken  into  the  cabin  and  warmed  up, 
while  Earl  prepared  a  thin  vegetaljle  soup  for  them, 
that  being  best  for  their  stomachs,  according  to  the 
doctor.  They  could  hardly  swallow  at  first,  and  it  was 
not  until  the  following  morning  that  they  were  strong 
enough  to  sit  up  and  tell  their  stories.  They  had 
been  wintering  back  of  the  woods,  but  starvation  had 
driven  them  forth  in  an  attempt  tor  reach  Dawson  City 
for  supplies.  Their  strength  had  failed  them,  they  had 
lost  their  way,  and  here  tliey  were. 

"  Take  care  of  us,  and  we'll  pay  you  well,"  said  one 
of  the  miners.  "  We've  got  over  a  thousand  dollars  in 
gold  dust  with  us  and  ten  thousand  in  dust  and  nug- 
gets hidden  up  at  the  camp." 

"  I'm  afraid  your  money  won't  count  up  here," 
replied  Poster  Portney,  sadly.  "  We're  almost  as  badly 
off  ourselves.  Yet  I  am  willing  to  share  what  I 
have."  A  vote  was  taken,  and  the  miners  remained  ; 
and  that  made  two  more  mouths  to  feed  out  of  their 
scanty  store. 

The  first  week  in  April  saw  them  reduced  to  next  to 
nothing.  The  flour  was  gone,  so  was  the  bacon  and 
the  canned  goods,  and  it  was  pork  and  beans  and 
stewed  dried  apples  twice  a  day  and  nothing   more. 


' 


II 
f 

i, 


li;iv 


i 


234 


To   ALASKA    KOK   i\i)lA). 


Every  one  looked  liiigj,'iir<l,  and  all  felt  that  something 
must  happen  soon.     Would  spring  ever  come  ? 

"Pork  and  beans  enough  to  last  about  three  days 
yet,"  said  Foster  Portney,  as  he  surveyed  the  scanty 
store,  with  the  others  standing  around.  ''  Three  days, 
and  after  tliat  —  "  He  did  not  linish,  and  a  silence  fell 
on  the  crowd.  Were  they  to  suffer  the  pangs  of  actual 
starvation,  after  all  ? 


\n 


ii 


CIIAPTKR  XXX. 

LAST  WASHINGS    FOll   GOLD. 

Just  one  clay  before  their  provisions  gave  out  the 
skies  briglitenetl  as  if  by  magic  and  the  sun  came  out 
warmly.  They  could  scarcely  believe  their  eyes,  so 
sudden  was  the  change.  The  snow  was  cleared  away 
from  the  door,  and  every  one  lost  no  time  in  rushing  out 
into  the  fresh  air. 

"  This  is  living  again  !  "  cried  Earl.  And  then  he 
added  :  "  Let  us  beat  down  a  path  to  Wompole's  cottage 
and  see  how  he  is  faring." 

The  others  agreed,  and  soon  they  had  a  trail  to  the 
next  cabin,  where  an  old  Alaskan  gold  hunter  had  gone 
into  quarters  all  by  himself.  Wompole  was  also  out, 
and  they  shook  hands.  When  questioned  he  said  he 
had  run  out  of  everything  but  beans,  dried  peas,  and 
some  smoked  salmon,  and  he  agreed  to  let  them  have 
enough  of  his  stores  to  last  them  three  days  longer. 

"Winter  is  broke  up  now,"  he  remarked.  "An'  I 
reckon  thar  ain't  no  doubt  but  wot  ye  kin  git  ter  Daw- 
son an'  back,  if  ye  try." 

"  And  I  shall  try,"  said  Foster  Portney ;  and  an  hour 
later  he  and  Captain  Zoss  started  off  on  snowshoes  which 

235 


■m 


236 


TO   ALxiSKA   FOR   GOLD. 


it  ' 


■'■5  h 


they  had  made  during  their  many  idle  hours.  Randy 
and  Earl  saw  their  uncle  depart  with  mach  anxiety,  but 
did  nothing  to  detain  him,  for  food  they  m  ist  have,  and 
tliat  appeai'ed  the  only  manner  in  which  to  obtain  it. 

"  If  we  (iould  only  bring  down  a  bird  or  something 
with  the  gun,"  said  Earl,  some  time  later,  and  then  he 
climbed  the  cliff  and  beat  a  path  to  the  first  belt  of 
tin  ber.  But  though  he  thrashed  around  three  hourb; 
not  a  sign  of  game  was  to  be  discovered  anywhere. 

The  night  was  cold,  but  not  nearly  as  much  so  iS 
other  nights  had  been,  and  on  the  following  day  the 
mercury  when  held  in  the  svin  actually  crawled  up  to 
ten  degrees  above  zero.  And  so  it  kept  gradually  be- 
coming warmer,  until  the  snow  started  to  melt  and  they 
knew  for  a  certainty  that  the  long  and  tedious  winter 
was  a  thing  of  the  past. 

It  took  Foster  Portney  and  Captain  Zoss  five  full 
days  to  find  their  way  to  Dawson  City  and  back  again. 
The  return  for  the  larger  portion  of  the  way  was  made 
on  dog  sledges  driven  by  Indians.  They  had  found 
provisions  very  scarce  and  high  in  price  in  Dawson 
City,  but  had  brought  back  enougli  to  last  m.  month. 
One  of  the  Indians  had  also  brought  provisions  for  the 
two  minerS:  this  commission  ha  ing  been  executed 
throLigh  Mr.  Portney,  and  the  next  day  the  miners  set 
off  for  their  own  cabin  with  many  sincere  thanks  for 
the  assistance  which  had  l)een  rendered  them. 

On  the  day  the  provisions  came  in,  they  celebrated  by 


LAST   WASHINGS   FOR   COLD. 


237 


having  what  Dr.  Barvvaithe  called  "a  round,  square 
meal."  To  be  sure  there  was  nothing  but  the  plainest 
kind  of  food,  but  there  was  enough,  and  that  was  of 
prime  importance. 

After  this  they  watched  eagerly  for  the  day  to  come 
when  they  might  get  to  work  again.  A  bargain  had 
been  struck  all  around,  wliereby  the  doctor  and  the  cap- 
tain were  to  work  the  single  sluice  box  on  the  upper 
claim  and  have  four-fifths  of  the  findings,  the  other 
fifth  going  to  Foster  Portney  for  keeping  them  —  the 
contract  to  hold  good  so  long  as  the  pair  were  content 
to  remain  in  the  present  camp. 

"  The  water  is  running  in  the  gulch  !  "  was  the  wel- 
come announcement  made  by  Earl  one  day,  and  all 
went  down  to  see  the  thin  stream,  which  soon  became 
stronger.  The  snow  w^as  almost  gone  \ow,  and  the 
sand,  gravel,  and  dirt  which  was  exposed  to  the  sun 
was  quite  free  from  frost.  The  picks,  shovels,  and 
other  tools  were  brought  out  and  cleaned  up,  and  two 
days  later  found  them  at  work  as  during  the  previous 
summer.  It  was  marvellous  how  the  seasons  changed 
when  once  there  was  a  start. 

Before  the  end  of  the  month  Mr.  Portney  made  an- 
other trip  to  Dawson  Cit}',  and  this  time  he  took  with 
him  both  Randy  and  Earl.  They  had  settled  that  they 
should  remain  in  the  gulch  until  the  first  of  August, 
and  now  they  took  back,  by  Indian  carriers,  enough 
provisions  to  last  the  camp  until  that  time. 


^ 


238 


TO    ALA-^lvA    FOR   COLD. 


14 


The  stop  ill  Dawson  IusUmI  two  djiya,  and  the  boys 
luid  a  eliance  to  walk  about  the  town  and  see  how  it 
had  improved.  There  were  now  at  least  twoscore  of 
buildings,  and  several  of  them  were  quite  pretentious. 
At  the  dock  were  two  steamboats,  both  nearly  free  of 
the  ice  whicli  had  held  them  fast  all  winter. 

In  the  town  there  \vas  much  news  to  be  heard  of  the 
many  wonderful  strikes  which  had  been  made.  Several 
had  taken  out  over  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  dust 
and  nuggets,  and  were  waiting  for  navigation  to  open 
on  the  Yukon,  that  they  might  sail  for  home  with  their 
riches.  No  one  who  had  accumulated  a  pile  cared  to 
remain  in  that  forsaken  country. 

Just  before  they  were  to  start  for  the  gulch,  IVIr. 
Portney  brought  news  of  Tom  Roland.  The  man  had 
been  captured  nt  C'x'cle  City  two  months  before,  and 
the  gold  stolen  i^'o  a  Cozzins  taken  from  him.  He  had 
escaped  from  his  temporary  jail  and  fled  to  the  moun- 
tains, and  now  his  dead  body  had  been  found  at  the 
foot  of  a  lofty  canon,  down  which  he  had  most  likely 
tumbled  during  the  snowstorm  which  was  then  raging. 
It  was  a  sad  ending  to  a  misspent  life,  and  the  boys 
could  not  help  but  shudder  as  they  heard  the  story. 
They  wondered  what  had  become  of  Jasper  Guardley, 
but  nothing  further  was  ever  heard  of  that  cowardly 
rascal. 

By  the  first  of  June  the  gulch  was  as  active  as  it  had 
ever  been  during  the  previous  summer,  and  the  mosqui- 


LAST    WASniNCiS    FCMt   (JOLD. 


239 


had 


squi- 


toes  and  flios  wore  just  as  numerous  and  troublesome. 
No  more  iinds  of  nuggets  of  large  size  were  made,  but  the 
sluice  boxes  yielded  heavy  returns  of  dust,  and  all  were 
very  well  content,  and  Dr.  Barwaithe  and  Captain 
Zoss  gave  up  all  thoughts  of  leaving. 

"  We  know  what  we  have  here,"  said  the  doctor, 
"and  1  am  convinced  that  too  much  prospecting  does 
not  pay." 

"  An'  besides,  it's  something  ter  be  in  company 
which  is  congenial,"  added  the  captain.  "  Over  to  the 
other  claim  it  was  nuthin'  but  fight  the  whole  day  long 
with  yer  neighbors  about  stake  lines." 

By  the  end  of  July  the  sand  and  gravel  taken  from 
the  bedrock  of  Mosquito  Hollow  gulch  had  been  dis- 
posed of,  and  now  a  month  was  given  to  a  general 
clearing  up  of  the  dirt  taken  from  half  a  dozen  little 
hollows  which  lay  on  either  side.  It  was  terribly  hot 
again,  but  the  workers  took  their  time  over  what  they 
did,  and  often  rested  during  the  middle  of  the  day. 
Three  days  before  the  first  of  September  they  were  done. 

"  There,  that  settles  it  I  "  cried  Foster  Portney,  as  he 
jBiung  down  his  shovel.  "  No  more  work  for  me  until  I 
have  paid  a  visit  to  the  States." 

"  Hurrah  !  "  shouted  Randy,  and  he  gave  his  pick  a 
whirl  which  sent  it  thirty  feet  off.  "  I'm  just  aching 
for  a  sight  of  civilization." 

"  And  for  an  old-fashioned  meal,"  added  Earl. 

Fred's  eyes  glistened,  but  he  said  nothing.     He  was 


240 


TO   ALASKA   FOIl   GOLD. 


I*' 


■  i-^ 


wondering  what  sort  of  a  reception  lie  would  receive 
when  he  got  home.  He  had  sent  on  two  letters  from 
the  gulch,  but  no  answer  had  come  back  and  there  was 
no  telling  if  the  communications  had  reached  their  des- 
tination. 

The  next  day  was  spent  in  the  delightful  task  of 
counting  up  the  proceeds  of  their  venture.  Of  course 
it  was  impossible  to  calculate  closely,  yet  they  were 
conservative  in  their  estimates,  and  in  the  end,  when 
their  nuggets  and  dust  were  turned  over  to  the  United 
States  mint  in  San  Francisco,  they  were  not  disappointed 
as  to  the  check  received  in  return. 

The  upper  claim  during  the  time  it  was  worked  by 
Dr.  Barwaithe  and  Captain  Zoss  in  the  spring  had 
yielded  five  thousand  dollars.  Of  this,  as  per  agree- 
ment, two  thousand  dollars  went  to  the  doctor,  a  like 
sum  to  the  captain,  and  one  thousand  dollars  to  Foster 
Portney.  Added  to  wliat  they  had  made  previously, 
the  doctor  and  the  captain  now  held  a  matter  of  nine 
thousand  dollars'  worth  of  gold  between  them.  Not  a 
fortune,  but  still  a  tidy  sum,  all  things  considered. 

The  Portneys,  of  course,  had  fared  much  better.  The 
total  yield  of  gold  to  them  from  start  to  finish  footed 
up  to  fifty-two  thousand  dollars.  Of  this  amount,  as 
we  know,  one-half  went  to  Earl  and  Randy,  which 
gave  the  lads  exactly  thirteen  thousand  dollars  apiece. 
Twenty-six  thousand  dollars  was  Foster  Portney's 
share,  but  out  of  this  he  had  been  compelled  to  spend 


b 


V 


LAST   WASHINGS   FOll   GOLD. 


241 


three  thousand  dollars  in  bringing  the  party  up  and 
keeping  them,  and  he  would  have  to  spend  nearly 
another  thousand  in  getting  them  home. 

During  the  early  summer  of  the  present  year,  Earl, 
Randy,  and  Foster  Portney  had  held  a  private  talk  con- 
cerning the  amount  to  be  granted  to  Fred,  and  it  had 
been  decided  that  he  should  have  an  even  thousand 
dollars,  one  half  to  come  from  the  two  boys'  share  and 
the  other  from  their  uncle.  Fred's  fare  was  also  to  be 
paid  clear  through  to  Basco.  The  lad,  when  told  of 
this  decision,  said  he  was  more  than  satisfied,  as  the 
amount  of  work  he  had  been  able  to  do  had  really 
been  very  small  on  account  of  frequent  attacks  of 
sickness. 

"  I  can't  stand  the  climate,"  he  said.  "  And  I  shan't 
attempt  to  come  up  here  again.  If  father  will  let  me, 
I'll  go  to  college  and  become  a  lawyer." 

The  doctor  was  going  on  to  Dawson  City  to  give  up 
mining  and  establish  himself  in  his  profession,  having 
become  satisfied  that  he  could  do  better  at  this  than 
he  could  in  working  a  claim.  But  the  captain  decided 
to  remain  where  he  was. 

"I'm  bound  ter  strike  it  rich  some  day,"  he  said. 
"An'  I'm  goin'  ter  rustle  till  I  do." 

"  I  certainly  hope  you  strike  it  rich,"  said  Randy ; 
for  the  pair  were  now  greater  friends  than  ever. 

It  was  a  warm,  clear  day  when  the  party  of  five  left 
the  gulch,  with  their  faces  set  toward  Dawson  City. 


K 


242 


TO   ALASKA    FOR    fJOLD. 


The  Portneys  had  decided  to  return  to  the  States  by 
tlie  way  of  the  Yukon  and  the  Pacific  (^cean,  and  a 
voyage  of  five  tliousand  miles  still  lay  before  them. 
They  carried  all  their  findings  with  them,  and  now 
the  question  arose,  —  having  found  so  much  gold, 
would  they  be  able  to  get  it  out  of  this  wild  country 
in  safety? 


-tes  by 
and  a 

them, 
i  now 

gold, 
)untry 


CHAPTER   XXXI. 

DOWN  THE  YUKON  AND  HOME. 

Foster  Pohtney  knew  that  the  regular  terminus 
of  travel  on  the  Yukon  steamboats  was  Fort  Cudahy, 
which  was  situated  forty-eight  miles  below  Dawson 
City.  But  owing  to  the  rush  to  the  new  gold  fields, 
which  was  now  stronger  than  ever,  two  small  boats 
were  making  regular  trips  between  these  two  points. 

When  the  party  reached  Dawson  City,  now  the  scene 
of  great  activity,  it  was  found  they  would  have  to 
wait  a  week  before  they  could  secure  passage  to  Fort 
Cudahy,  as  the  tickets  for  the  two  following  trips 
were  all  sold.  This  wait,  when  they  were  impatient  to 
get  home,  was  not  an  agreeable  one,  yet  it  gave  them 
a  chance  to  look  around  the  settlement  and  become 
better  acquainted  with  the  various  persons  who  were 
there. 

"Dawson  is  bound  to  grow,"  said  the  doctor,  who 
had  hired  a  room  at  the  so-called  hotel  and  hung  out 
his  sign  on  the  day  he  arrived.  "See,  there  are  ac- 
tually three  streets  already,  two  stores,  three  saloons, 
a  barber  shop,  and  a  reading  and  pool  room;   and  I 

243 


244 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   GOLD. 


it 

1^ ' 


1H[ 


I  J'H 


understand  that  a  fellow  has  just  arrived  who  is  going 
to  open  a  clothing  store,  and  another  is  on  his  way 
with  medicines  for  a  drug  store.  We  are  bound  to 
boom  !  " 

" '  We '  is  good !  "  said  Earl,  with  a  laugh.  "  I  guess 
you  had  better  strike  up  a  partnership  with  that  drug- 
gist when  he  arrives." 

"  Not  much.  Earl !  Til  put  him  in  the  way  of  get- 
ting the  gold  fever,  and  when  he  is  ready  to  strike  out, 
I'll  buy  his  outfit  and  run  the  whole  thing  myself. 
I'm  bound  to  make  money."  And  it  looked  as  if  the 
doctor  was  right,  for  daring  their  stay  in  Dawson 
City  he  had  eleven  calls  for  his  services,  for  which 
he  charged  the  fee  of  five  dollars  per  call,  which  was 
moderate  for  that  place. 

At  last  came  the  day  to  part,  and  with  a  hearty 
hand-shake  from  the  doctor  the  Portneys  and  Fred 
boarded  the  little  side-wheeler  Alice^  and  the  long 
homeward  trip  was  begun.  The  boat  was  crowded 
with  returning  miners,  and  as  nearly  all  of  them  had 
struck  gold,  it  was  a  happy  cci  gregation  which  spent 
the  time  in  eating,  drinking,  smoking,  playing  cards, 
and  "swapping  yarns."  "Swapping  yarns"  went  on 
continually,  and  many  were  the  wonderful  stories  told 
of  great  finds,  perilous  climbs,  and  escapes  from  starva- 
tion during  the  awful  winter. 

"I've  made  seventy  thousand  dollars,  boys,"  said 
one  elderly  miner.     "  But  I  never  did  so  much  starv- 


DOWN  THE  YUKON  AND  HOME. 


245 


drug- 


Fred 
long 


said 
tarv- 


ing  in  my  life,  an'  ten  bosses  couldn't  drag  nie  back  to 
put  in  anotber  sucli  winter  —  bear  me  !  " 

"  I'm  witb  ye,"  said  anotber ;  "  leas'wise,  I  tbink  I 
am.  But  tbar's  no  tellin'  wot  I  migbt  do  ef  tbe  gold 
fever  struck  me  ag'in,"  be  added  retlectively. 

Fort  Cudaby  was  a  small  settlement  on  the  Yukon, 
at  tbe  moutb  of  Clinton  Creek.  Just  above  tbe  creek 
was  anotber  settlement,  called  Forty  Mile.  Between 
the  stores  in  tbe  two  settlements  there  was  a  fierce 
rivalry,  and  consequently  prices  here  were  more  rea- 
sonable than  at  Dawson  City. 

Tbe  party  was  fortunate  in  obtaining  immediate  pas- 
sage to  Fort  Get  There,  on  St.  Michael's  Island,  which 
is  situated  sixty  miles  above  the  entrance  to  the  Yukon. 
An  offer  was  also  made  by  the  agent  of  the  transporta- 
tion company  to  take  charge  of  their  gold  from  there 
right  on  through  to  San  Francisco,  but  as  the  commis- 
sion for  doing  this  would  be  fifteen  per  cent,  this  offer 
was  declined. 

"  I  think  we  can  get  it  through,"  said  Foster  Port- 
ney.  "  At  any  rate,  I  am  willing  to  risk  it."  And  the 
boys  agreed  with  him. 

The  next  stop  of  importance  was  Circle  City,  of 
which  the  boys  had  heard  through  Mr.  Portney.  In 
former  days  Circle  City  had  been  the  banner  mining 
town  on  tbe  upper  Yukon,  but  now  its  glory  was  de- 
parted, for  over  three-quarters  of  its  inhabitants  had 
pulled  up  stakes  and  moved  on  to  the  Klondike  district. 


246 


TO   ALASKA   FOR   (iOLD. 


m 


From  Circle  City  tlie  river,  already  broad,  widened 
out  to  such  an  extent  that  it  looked  more  like  a  lake 
than  anything  else.  It  was  dotted  with  numerous 
islands,  and  the  pilot  of  the  boat  had  his  head  full  witli 
keeping  track  of  the  i)roper  channel  to  pursue.  The 
run  was  north  to  the  ruins  of  Fort  Yukon,  the  highest 
point  gained  by  the  mighty  river  upon  which  they  were 
sailing. 

From  Fort  Yukon  the  run  was  mostly  to  the  south- 
westward,  past  the  settlements  of  Shaman's,  We  Are, 
Nulato,  and  a  dozen  similar  places,  Indian  villages,  the 
home  of  fur  traders,  missionaries,  nnd  of  fishers.  At 
many  of  the  places  the  main  things  to  be  seen  were 
the  totem  poles  stuck  up  in  front  of  the  Indian  huts  — 
poles  of  wood,  curiously  carved  with  hideous-looking 
images  and  undecipherable  hieroglyphics. 

At  last  St.  Michael's  Island  was  gained,  and  here 
they  found  themselves  again  in  luck,  for  an  ocean 
steamer  was  in  waiting  to  take  the  passengers  from 
the  river  boat.  The  transfer  was  made  before  night- 
fall, and  at  dawn  of  the  day  following  the  steamer 
started  on  her  long  voyage  down  Norton  Sound, 
Bering  Sea,  and  the  Pacific  Ocean  to  Seattle.  But  one 
stop  was  made,  that  at  Dutch  Harbor,  on  one  of  the 
Aleutian  Islands,  and  then  one  glorious  afternoon  early 
in  the  fall  they  steamed  through  the  Straits  of  San 
Juan  de  Fuca  and  swept  into  the  grand  harbor  at 
Seattle. 


DOWN    THE    Vl'KON    AND    HOME. 


247 


early 
San 
or  at 


"The  United  States  at  last!"  cried  Kandy.  "Oh 
my,  how  good  civilization  does  look  I  " 

"  We  don't  know  what  we  have  at  home  until  we 
miss  it,"  said  Fred,  but  in  such  a  low  tone  that  nobody 
heard  him. 

They  stopped  in  Seattle  two  days,  and  then  took 
steamer  direct  for  San  Francisco.  The  trip  down  the 
coast  was  an  uneventful  one.  They  were  impatient  to 
finish  it,  and  a  glad  cry  rang  everywhere  through  the 
vessel  when  land  was  sighted  and  they  ran  through  the 
Golden  Gate. 

A  crowd  was  at  the  wharf  to  receive  the  latest 
news  from  the  gold  fields.  "  How  are  the  diggings 
up  there  ? "  "  Is  there  any  show  for  a  fellow  staking 
a  good  claim?"  "How  much  did  you  bring  along?" 
"Is  it  true  about  provisions  being  scarce?"  These 
and  a  hundred  other  questions  went  the  rounds,  as  the 
fortunate  ones  came  ashore.  Foster  Portney  managed 
to  keep  the  boys  together  and  get  them  through  the 
jam,  and  quarter  of  an  hour  later  found  them  on  the 
way  to  the  mint  with  their  precious  burdens.  Here 
they  were  given  receipts  for  their  nuggets  and  dust, 
and  then  they  turned  away  with  a  big  load  lifted  off 
their  minds,  for  they  knew  that  their  fortunes  were 
now  safe. 

And  here  properly  ends  the  tale  of  the  fortune 
hunters  of  the  Yukon.  How  F'red  Dobson  returned 
homci  a  penitent  runaway,  and  how  he  was  readily  for- 


248 


TO  ALASKA  FOR  GOLD. 


i 

m 


given  and  later  on  allowed  to  study  for  college,  I  will 
leave  my  readers  to  imagine.  As  for  Earl  and  Randy, 
there  was  nothing  which  called  for  their  return  to 
Basco,  and  they  remained  with  their  uncle  in  San 
Francisco  until  their  gold  was  reduced  to  coin  and 
they  received  a  check  on  the  treasurer  of  the  United 
States  for  its  value.  Then  they  paid  a  visit  to  Col- 
orado, remaining  there  until  the  following  spring. 
During  the  winter  a  company  was  organized  to  work 
their  claims  by  machinery,  and  early  spring  found  them 
again  in  the  land  of  gold.  And  there  we  will  leave 
them,  wishing  them  all  the  success  that  their  pluck  and 
industry  deserve. 


THE   END. 


t 


1 


